Medical update: superficial blood clot leads to extended absence
Jalen Hurts has been placed on injured reserve after medical testing identified a blood clot, a development that will sideline him for an extended period. Team officials and medical consultations determined the issue is not a short-term scare and will require an absence beyond the immediate weeks, leaving his status unclear for the foreseeable future.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport estimated Hurts will miss at least four games, saying consultations with numerous doctors and experts informed the decision to place him on injured reserve. The team announced the roster move Saturday, confirming Hurts will be unavailable while treatment and monitoring continue.
The situation has been described as concerning and raises immediate questions about both Hurts’ health trajectory and the Eagles’ plans at quarterback while he recovers.
Depth test: Tanner McKee to start amid depleted backfield
With Hurts sidelined, the Philadelphia Eagles will turn to Tanner McKee, who is slated to make his third career start. McKee inherits a roster that will be thin at key offensive spots: he will not be able to rely on any running back from the Eagles' opening-day roster for the immediate slate of games.
Backup running back Tank Bigsby is already on injured reserve with an abdominal injury, and third-string running back Will Shipley suffered a partial tear of his plantar fascia last Sunday. The combination of those absences leaves McKee reliant on veteran additions Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele to anchor the rushing attack.
Offensive line and pass-catchers will play a heightened role in steadying the offense while McKee takes over. Landon Dickerson is set to return from a bone bruise in his right knee, which provides a boost up front, and DeVonta Smith is also back, joining Darius Cooper and Dallas Goedert in the passing attack.
The Eagles enter this stretch of the season with a 2-3 record, a mark that increases the stakes for the next set of games while Hurts is out. McKee’s performance over the coming weeks will have direct implications for the team’s ability to stay competitive during Hurts’ absence.
Medical staff and team decision-makers are treating the clot seriously; blood clots carry significant health risks, and the club’s approach reflects a precautionary course that prioritizes recovery over rushing a return. For now, the timeline remains tied to ongoing evaluations and the progression of treatment.
The Eagles will proceed with McKee under center and a reconfigured offensive game plan until Hurts is cleared to return, with an eye on balancing immediate roster needs and long-term health priorities for the player at the center of the club’s plans.
