Why Hurts played with blood clot and what it means for NFL

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. The condition worsened after Hurts was cleared to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on October 11, despite testing positive for a superficial calf blood clot hours earlier, before immediately flying back to the United States.

The incident has sparked intense scrutiny over player welfare during international series games, leading the NFL and NFLPA to initiate a joint review. While NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills defended the medical care as conservative, medical experts note the complexity of managing such injuries around long-haul travel.