NFL players union seeks investigation into Jalen Hurts’ medical care
The NFLPA says the league told it no review was planned, while the NFL’s chief medical officer has voiced confidence in the Eagles’ medical staff.
The NFL Players Association called for a full investigation into the medical care Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts received after blood clots were found in his leg and lungs. The union’s call, reported Tuesday, raises questions about how his condition was handled before he played in London and flew home; the NFL says it is not disciplining the Eagles.
The NFLPA said it was unaware of any league investigation into Hurts’ care and that the NFL had previously told it no review was planned. ‘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 reported by AFP. It said establishing the facts was essential to protecting players’ care.
How Hurts’ blood clots were identified
Hurts told Eagles medical staff about an injury after being stepped on during a practice in London, AFP reported. He was initially diagnosed with a superficial clot in his calf, played against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London and then flew home. Further examinations found clots in his lungs, according to AFP. The account does not establish whether playing or travel affected his condition.
The Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, said he had deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, CBS News reported. They described his prognosis as very good and said they anticipated a full recovery. The Eagles said Hurts could miss the rest of the season, according to CBS News.
What the NFL and Eagles have said
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Tuesday at league meetings in New York that he had ‘tremendous confidence’ in the Eagles’ medical staff. Sills said team physicians were not directed by coaches, owners or executives. He declined to discuss the specifics of Hurts’ case, citing patient privacy, AFP reported.
The league said it had been in contact with Eagles medical personnel and the Cleveland Clinic in London during Hurts’ treatment, according to an Associated Press report published by NBC News. An NFL spokesperson said the Eagles were not being disciplined over their handling of the case. The union’s request concerns the medical decisions themselves, which have not been fully explained publicly.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Monday that he relied on the team’s medical experts when asked about the initial handling of the calf clot, Yahoo Sports reported. He declined to detail the conversations behind the decisions. ‘I’m not a medical expert,’ Sirianni said. ‘I lean on our medical experts in every situation.’
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Sources and context
- NFL players union wants probe into Hurts' medical careAFP, republished by Yahoo Sports
- What to know about Jalen Hurts' condition after blood clots found in Eagles star's lungs, legCBS News
- Eagles aren’t being punished for handling of Jalen Hurts’ blood clotsAssociated Press and NBC News
- Nick Sirianni on Eagles allowing Jalen Hurts to play, fly home from London with known blood clot: 'We leave that up to the medical experts'Yahoo Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.