More details have come out about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’s leg injury.
At a press conference Wednesday, Hurts was vague about the calf injury he played through in the Eagles’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. On Thursday, the team issued a statement saying Hurts was dealing with a blood clot in his calf after being cleated two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams. The injury will sideline Hurts this week as the medical staff figures out how to proceed.
Hurts suddenly appeared on the injury report last Friday, just two days before the game against the Jaguars in London. He played through the game, a 19-17 loss.
“It was a very unique experience, to say the least,” Hurts said at the podium Wednesday. “I don’t want to get into the details of kind of leading up to the game and whatnot, but [I] got nicked up in the Rams game.”
The Eagles added those missing details Thursday.
“On [Oct. 8], Jalen visited the training room after practice requesting treatment for his calf,” the statement read. “He informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4th. This was his first treatment session for the calf injury following the game, after having practiced in full both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Jalen received treatment, practiced in full, and was added to the practice report.”
Hurts flew with the team to London and took part in the team walk-through practice. On Saturday, doctors administered an ultrasound and discovered a “superficial blood clot” in his calf. Team doctors and local doctors concluded that activity and mobility were important, and that he could play in the game, but recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the team’s return to Philadelphia. He was treated Monday and Tuesday and was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.
“On Wednesday night, a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the small blood clot. Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment. His health and safety are our highest priority.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “superficial thrombophlebitis, or superficial vein thrombosis, is a blood clot that occurs in veins under the skin,” typically in the arms or legs. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and skin that is red or discolored and warm or hot to the touch.
It can be caused by an injury such as being “cleated”—kicked or stepped on by the spikes of a football cleat. Treatment includes warm compresses, elevation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and compression socks. It typically goes away within a few weeks, but it can develop into a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) blood clot.
Hurts is the latest athlete to be affected by blood clots. Over the summer, the Carolina Panthers announced that right tackle Taylor Moton had a blood clot in his lung. According to a report from the Panthers’ official website at the time, Moton was diagnosed with the condition in late June. He was prescribed blood thinners and assessed daily by the team’s medical staff. The report said Moton was responding well to the treatment. Moton was expected to return sometime during the season, but the report did not specify when. He was placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list.
Moton’s practice window was opened Wednesday.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave missed the Saints’ season finale last year due to a blood clot in his lungs and was held out of the Saints’ offseason practices. Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson was diagnosed with blood clots for the second time in his career in 2025 and was unable to participate in team drills during training camp. He responded well to treatment, started 16 games that season, and has returned to action this season.
New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore suffered from blood clots in the summer of 2024. Former NFL wide receiver and Olympic long jumper Marquise Goodwin had clots in his legs and lungs in the summer of 2023 and missed training camp with the Cleveland Browns. A blood clot in the lungs ended the career of journeyman center Billy Price in 2024.
