PHILADELPHIA — The NFL is defending the Philadelphia Eagles’ handling of quarterback Jalen Hurts’ medical situation, while the NFL Players Association is calling for a full investigation into the care he received.
The dispute comes after Hurts was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The league’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said Tuesday he had confidence in the Eagles’ medical staff. Later, the NFLPA said it was unaware of any league investigation and that the NFL had previously told the union it did not plan to review the care Hurts received.
Hurts was initially diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his left calf before the Eagles played the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 11. The team said he was evaluated by medical staff and specialists in London and cleared to play. After further testing, Hurts was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in both lungs. He is clinically stable and receiving treatment with blood thinners, according to reports.
Sills said the NFL had been in contact with the Eagles’ medical personnel and the Cleveland Clinic in London during the process. He described the care as conservative and patient-focused, and said the fact that Hurts’ condition later progressed did not, by itself, mean the earlier medical decisions were flawed.
“There is no set league protocol for blood clots,” Reuters reported Sills as saying. He also cautioned against judging the medical decisions without access to the full patient information.
The NFLPA said it wants the facts established before conclusions are reached.
“Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred,” the union said in a statement. It added that determining what happened is important to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection.
The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously, that the Eagles would not be disciplined over their handling of Hurts’ condition. That report has drawn added scrutiny because the NFLPA says it was not aware of a league investigation and had been told no review was planned.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has said he trusts the team’s medical staff and that player health comes first. The team and Hurts’ agent have said he is expected to make a full recovery. He will not be able to take part in football activities while he is on blood thinners.
The NFLPA’s call for an investigation leaves questions about what review, if any, will now take place and whether the league, the team and the union will share further details about the medical decision-making.
