Jalen Hurts is done for the season. Let that sink in. The star quarterback, who played a game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a superficial blood clot in his calf, has been shut down for recovery after doctors found those clots were far more serious than initially believed. It is a terrifying situation for any player, and it immediately raised massive questions about how the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles handled his initial diagnosis and clearance to play.
How Hurts Ended Up On The Sidelines
Before the London game, Hurts was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot. Yet, he was cleared to fly across the pond and play in the game anyway. Just days later, the real severity of his condition came to light, leading to the devastating news that he would miss the entire season. The league initially cleared the Eagles of any wrongdoing in the process. But come on, playing with a blood clot, only for it to be much worse later? That is not good enough for anyone, especially the NFL Players Association. The NFLPA was not satisfied with the league’s initial stance. They publicly called for a deeper investigation into how this whole situation went down, demanding real answers.
The NFLPA Demands Answers, Goodell Defends Protocols
Now, the NFL and the NFLPA have finally released a joint statement. They announced that they are “working together to review the matter.” This comes hot on the heels of the NFLPA’s public demand for the league to open an investigation. The NFLPA made it crystal clear: “Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred. Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward.” The stakes are incredibly high here. When asked about the NFLPA’s serious concerns, Roger Goodell, the commissioner himself, stated he was “satisfied with the way all sides handled the quarterback in London.” Goodell even doubled down, saying, “I think our protocols were incredibly good there.” He added that the league has the “greatest medical advisors and people that are working on the health of our players.” This review, however, better find any breaches in protocol that might have occurred during Hurts’ medical evaluations.
This is not just about one player. It is about every single player’s safety on that field. The NFL and NFLPA say they are committed to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection. This review has to deliver on that promise. What they find, and how they act on it, will set a precedent for player health going forward. We need answers, and we need action.
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.
Leave a Reply