Jalen Hurts is officially out for the rest of the 2026 season, dealing with a blood clot issue that’s now spread to his lungs and needs serious treatment. This is a brutal blow for any player, but it gets even wilder when you hear the whole story: Hurts played through Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, blood clot and all, reportedly on little to no sleep. That decision by the Philadelphia Eagles was hugely controversial, so you’d think the league would step in, right? Nope. According to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, the Eagles won’t face any punishment from the NFL.
Playing Through Danger: What Went Down in London
Seriously, can you believe this? Hurts was already dealing with a superficial blood clot, and the Eagles still let him take the field in London. He was reportedly running on fumes, getting minimal sleep, and pushing through something that we now know was way more serious than it appeared at the time. This wasn’t some minor bruise; this was a blood clot that, post-game and post-flight, was revealed to have spread to his lungs. The guy is now on blood thinners, and his full recovery isn’t expected until well after this 2026 season is over. The Eagles had Tanner McKee and Cole Payton on the roster who could’ve stepped up for that single game, but they chose to roll with Hurts. It was a risky call that fans and media alike were absolutely ripping them for.
The League’s Verdict: “Handled Appropriately”?
Even after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni got grilled by reporters about Hurts’ health and that mind-boggling decision to play him, the NFL has officially closed the book on this. A league source told Jones and The Athletic that the process surrounding Hurts’ clearance for Week 5 was “handled appropriately.” Let that sink in: “handled appropriately.” The NFL won’t be issuing any punishment to the Eagles, either for how they managed the medical process or for not giving Hurts an injury designation before the game. Despite the public outcry and obvious concerns about player safety, the league is basically saying, “Nothing to see here, folks.”
This whole situation has reportedly concluded, with everyone now just hoping Hurts makes a full recovery and can be back on the field for the 2027 season. It’s a wild outcome after such a concerning injury and a controversial decision.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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