How Jalen Hurts' Calf Injury Turned Into a Blood Clot Diagnosis in Both Lungs

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning blood clots in both lungs, the team announced Monday. The finding is more serious than the superficial calf clot the Eagles disclosed last week.

NBC News reported that Hurts is likely out for the rest of 2026, and The Guardian said he is set to miss the rest of the season. According to NBC, the team did not set an exact return date. ABC News said only that he will miss additional games.

What the Eagles said about his condition

In a statement, the team said further testing and monitoring changed the diagnosis from superficial vein thrombosis in his left calf. Hurts is on blood thinners and cannot take part in contact activities, including football, while he is on them.

The Eagles described him as clinically stable with “no significant functional limitations.” They said his prognosis is very good and they expect a “full recovery” with no long-term effects. They also said he will stay active around the team and keep conditioning. He is expected to have the chance to resume contact football once he is off the blood thinners.

How the diagnosis unfolded, step by step

• Oct. 4: According to ABC News, Hurts was hit by a cleat during a game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles later said this led to a superficial clot in his calf.
• Oct. 8: Hurts first asked for treatment on his calf after practice, the team said, according to ABC.
• Oct. 11: Hurts traveled with the team to London and played in the Eagles’ 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Afterward, a follow-up ultrasound showed movement in the small clot, ABC reported. The Guardian said specialists in England initially diagnosed superficial clots in his left calf. This was his last game.
• Sunday: Hurts sat out a 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Backup Tanner McKee started and finished 26 of 45 for 215 yards and a touchdown, according to The Guardian.
• Monday: The Eagles announced the updated diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli.

What the medical terms mean

ABC News, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained that a deep vein thrombosis is a clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. A pulmonary embolism occurs when part of that clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. The CDC says that can be life-threatening. Bilateral means clots are present in both the right and left lungs.

ABC reported that a pulmonary embolism can cause permanent lung damage, low blood oxygen levels and damage to other organs. Blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, are the most common treatment for both conditions.

Why it matters beyond the Eagles’ season

Hurts’ case shows how a clot that starts out minor can change. According to ABC, citing the CDC, an untreated superficial clot can become a deep one, which raises the chance of clots reaching the lungs. ABC also reported that early signs of a clot typically include swelling, pain or redness in the affected area, and that doctors use ultrasound to diagnose it and look for deeper clots.

The CDC lists several risk factors for DVT and pulmonary embolism, according to ABC. They include long-distance air travel, older age, recent hospitalization or surgery, long periods of limited mobility, family history and pregnancy. JAMA, also cited by ABC, lists prior injury to the area, prolonged travel or immobility, recent surgery or a prior IV in the vein as risk factors for superficial clots.

What it means for the Eagles

The Guardian reported that the Eagles are 2-4 and have lost four straight games for the first time since 2020. Hurts has thrown for 933 yards, with eight touchdown passes and three interceptions this season. He had not missed more than two games in a season since becoming the full-time starter in 2021, and he has led the team to five straight playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances.

Hurts, 28, is in the middle of a five-year, $255 million extension that includes $179.3 million guaranteed and runs through the 2028 season, The Guardian said. NBC noted he was MVP of Super Bowl 59, a 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9, 2025.

What happens next

The team has not given a date for his return. According to the Eagles, a comeback to contact football depends on when he is cleared to come off blood thinners. Until then, he is barred from contact activities and is expected to remain with the team.

Sources: ABC News, NBC News, The Guardian