Jalen Hurts is sidelined indefinitely with a superficial blood clot and will miss the Eagles’ game against the Panthers on Sunday, but somehow, the team isn’t even planning to place him on injured reserve. You read that right. Despite the severity, the Eagles reportedly haven’t even discussed the possibility of an IR stint for their franchise quarterback.
From Calf Pain to a Moving Clot: The Alarming Timeline
This whole situation started four days after the Eagles’ Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, when Hurts requested treatment on his calf. What followed sounds like a crazy chain of events. When the team landed in London for their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they performed an ultrasound on his leg and found the superficial blood clot. Get this: the team’s medical staff actually determined he could play after that initial finding! But then, a follow-up ultrasound revealed the clot had *moved*. That’s the part that should make everyone nervous, because a moving clot can lead to a serious health situation. Even with that chilling detail, the Eagles are apparently still not hitting the IR panic button, which would typically sideline a player for at least four weeks.
Treatment, Thinners, and a Looming Shadow of More Time Off
Hurts and the team are still trying to nail down the best treatment plan, with the team confident it’s treatable. Right now, his medical team will decide when he can play again. The big problem? A main treatment for blood clots involves blood thinners, and a player absolutely cannot be on the field while taking that medication. Typically, a patient is on thinners for six weeks. Now, if the clot is minor, there might be other options, like anti-inflammatories, but if it worsens? That means more time on blood thinners, which translates directly to more time away from the gridiron. The team still says IR is an option if his medical team believes it’s the best path, but for now, they’re not committing to it, despite the clear risks.
A Quarterback Room Suddenly Packed to the Gills
With Hurts officially out for the Panthers game, Tanner McKee is stepping up to lead the offense, and rookie Cole Payton will be his backup. The Eagles also went out and added some immediate security at the position this week, signing Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. That move brings their quarterback count to four, a number that definitely made some people assume Hurts was headed straight to IR. The Eagles might not be ready to admit it, but adding a fourth QB to the roster when your starter is out indefinitely with a *moving* blood clot sure feels like they’re preparing for a long haul.
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Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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