The NFL will not penalize the Philadelphia Eagles over how they handled quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was cleared to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 5. After a formal review, the league found that the team didn’t violate the official injury reporting policy.
League officials confirmed that their medical personnel, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills, stayed in direct contact with the Eagles’ staff and the London medical providers throughout the diagnosis and treatment. Sills stressed that player healthcare depends on structured coordination between team medical staff and independent specialists.
The ruling comes as Hurts faces a season-ending diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, a condition in which a blood clot traveled from his leg to his lungs. The three-time Pro Bowler will go on a blood-thinner regimen that will keep him sidelined for at least three months.
Hurts first injured his calf on October 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, per ESPN. An ultrasound in London then revealed a superficial blood clot. He received hospital treatment late into the night before kickoff, but team doctors and local specialists decided he was safe to play, and he went on to attempt 40 passes in the game.
The clot is considered “provoked” by the initial trauma of being cleated, which offers a favorable prognosis with proper care. But follow-up ultrasounds back in Philadelphia showed the clot had moved, and the team placed him on injured reserve.
Head coach Nick Sirianni defended the organization’s protocol, saying he has complete confidence in the medical staff and that player safety comes first. He also acknowledged what this means for the team, emotionally and tactically, after six years with Hurts as his starting quarterback.
It stops a standout run. Hurts has rarely missed game time since taking over as starter in 2021. He ranks fourth in franchise passing history and has led Philadelphia to three NFC East titles, two Super Bowl appearances and a win in Super Bowl LIX.
