Hurts Goes on Injured Reserve With Blood Clot
A superficial clot in his calf keeps the Eagles quarterback out at least four games, and Tanner McKee starts
Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, is on injured reserve with a superficial blood clot in his calf and will miss at least four games. Tanner McKee starts in his place against the Carolina Panthers.
Hurts will miss the games against Carolina, the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants before the Eagles' bye in Week 10.
The team said Hurts asked for treatment on the calf after being cleated in the October 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams. An ultrasound in London found the clot before the October 11 game against Jacksonville, doctors cleared him to play, and he played without limitation. A follow-up ultrasound on October 14 showed the clot had moved.
Philadelphia is 2–3 and has lost three straight games. Hurts has thrown for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions this season.
The Philadelphia Eagles placed quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve with a superficial blood clot in his calf, which rules him out for at least four games. Tanner McKee starts in his place against the Carolina Panthers.
The team announced the move on October 17, a day before the home game against Carolina at Lincoln Financial Field. Hurts will also miss the games against the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants before the Eagles' bye in Week 10. The team had ruled him out against Carolina on October 15.
That day the team released a statement setting out how the clot was found. Hurts was cleated during the October 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He practiced in full on October 7 and 8, and after practice on October 8 he went to the training room and asked for treatment on the calf. It was his first treatment for the injury. He received treatment again on October 9, practiced in full and was added to the practice report.
The team flew to London for its game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On October 10, after the flight and a walkthrough, an ultrasound found a superficial blood clot. The Eagles' medical staff and doctors in London concluded that Hurts could safely play and recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the flight home.
Hurts played without limitation against Jacksonville on October 11. He completed 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, and Philadelphia lost. He received treatment on October 12 and 13 and practiced in full on October 14. That night the follow-up ultrasound showed that the clot had moved. The team said it had kept the league office informed throughout.
"His health and safety are our highest priority," the Eagles said in the statement.
Philadelphia is 2–3 after losing its last three games. Hurts has thrown for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions, and his completion rate of 57.8 percent is the lowest of his career outside his rookie season. The offense is 29th in the league in points.
McKee has thrown for 597 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in six career appearances, and he is 1–1 as a starter. Rookie Cole Payton, a fifth-round pick, was promoted to backup. The team also signed quarterback Joe Milton III off the Dallas practice squad. Under league rules, Milton must stay on the Eagles' roster for three weeks.
The injury is the latest in a run of changes to the offense. Running back Saquon Barkley is out against Carolina with a hamstring injury, the second game he will miss, and his main backups, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley, are on injured reserve. Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele are the remaining running backs. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, who have each missed two games, are available. Right tackle Lane Johnson retired on October 6 after six Pro Bowls, and the team traded center Cam Jurgens to the Houston Texans the next day.
Nick Sirianni has taken the Eagles to the playoffs in each of his five seasons as coach.