This is just brutal, man. Jalen Hurts, the two-time defending NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback, is expected to miss the entire rest of the 2026 season. After starting the year 2-4, losing your franchise QB for the year like this? That’s an absolute gut punch, and it puts a massive spotlight on every single move the Eagles have made.
This Ain’t Just a Hamstring
This isn’t your typical sports injury, either. The first signs came after their Week 5 game in London, when an ultrasound on Hurts’ calf revealed a superficial blood clot had moved. The Eagles ruled him out then, stating they were figuring out the “appropriate course of treatment” and that his “health and safety are our highest priority.” But then, over the weekend, the situation escalated dramatically. Blood clots were found in his lungs, and his diagnosis changed to “a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.” While he’s expected to make a full recovery, there’s no way he can play football while on blood thinners. Period. Some teams might just throw in the towel, thinking about reloading for 2027. But Philadelphia? They are explicitly saying they can’t and won’t do that. They’re staying the course, fighting to compete this season, and exploring quarterback trades.
Dropping Serious Bank on Defense
Why stick with it when your superstar QB is sidelined? Simple: the Eagles have dropped an insane amount of cash on their top-end talent, especially on defense. General manager Howie Roseman went all in this offseason, making some massive deals. We’re talking about Jalen Carter, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, getting a four-year, $152 million extension with $106.85 million guaranteed. Then there’s Jordan Davis, a former first-round pick defensive tackle, who inked a three-year, $78 million contract with $64.4 million guaranteed. And let’s not forget Jonathan Greenard, the Pro Bowl edge rusher they traded a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to Minnesota for, plus a 2026 seventh. They immediately signed Greenard to a four-year, $98 million extension with $50 million guaranteed.
When you factor in Hurts’ own five-year, $255 million contract, those three defensive linemen are the next three highest-paid players in terms of total contract value on the team. That’s serious money tied up. The Eagles still boast one of the most talented rosters in the league, period, especially on that defensive side of the ball. Beyond those big names, they’ve got former first-round pick edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr., All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, former first-round pick linebacker Jihaad Campbell, All-Pro cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and Super Bowl champion cornerback Riq Woolen. Yeah, they’ve got some offensive guys battling injuries too, like former NFL Offensive Player of the Year running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring/toe), but Smith is back on the field. The talent is there.
Philly needs to remain laser-focused on that NFC East title. They’ve invested too much to just roll over and play dead. Now, the question becomes: what quarterback can they find via trade to keep those NFC East dreams alive? It’s going to be a wild ride watching them try to figure this out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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