The NFL has agreed to an inquiry regarding the Philadelphia Eagles’ management of Jalen Hurts’s blood clots following a request from the players’ union, stated commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday. Goodell, speaking at the conclusion of the NFL’s annual fall meeting, mentioned that Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, has reviewed the procedures followed and acknowledged the union’s right to seek an investigation.
“Clearly, a medical assessment took place, and I believe our protocols were highly effective,” Goodell remarked. “The protocols were adhered to. We ensure that this is the case through our process, and our chief medical officer has confirmed this, so we are confident that the protocols were followed.”
Dr. Sills passionately defended the Eagles’ medical staff on Tuesday. The NFL confirmed that discussions took place with team medical personnel and trainers, as well as the Cleveland Clinic in London.
League executive vice-president Jeff Miller stated that there was a good understanding of the events that transpired. He refuted a report suggesting that Hurts was awake for over 30 hours before playing against Jacksonville on October 11, clarifying that the quarterback returned to the hotel and slept for approximately seven to eight hours.
Hurts, currently on injured reserve, is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a blood clot in his left calf that traveled to his lungs. The Eagles and agent Nicole Lynn disclosed on Monday that Hurts is dealing with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. His treatment necessitates blood thinners, and he will be sidelined from all football activities until he is off medication.
Goodell played down the impact that international travel might have had on the situation, emphasizing that Hurts’s health is of utmost importance. “The primary concern here is Jalen’s health and well-being,” Goodell emphasized. “He is not only a phenomenal player but also a young man we all deeply care about. I am primarily concerned about his health, but I am reassured that the protocols were followed.”
Dr. Sills mentioned on Tuesday that the decision to allow a person with a blood clot to fly depends on various factors, including the clot’s location, the patient’s medical history, and more. “What I can say is that multiple experts are involved in the decision-making process,” Sills explained. “It’s not a single doctor’s decision. A team of experts, both internal and external, is consulted to provide the best judgment and expertise for a specific condition.”
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., penned a letter to Goodell seeking clarification on how the situation was managed and requesting a briefing for her office and members of the health, education, labor, and pensions committee. Blunt Rochester revealed that her husband passed away at the age of 52 after suffering a torn Achilles tendon while playing basketball, leading to blood clots reaching his heart and lungs.
“I am profoundly relieved that Mr. Hurts’s situation did not end tragically like my husband’s,” she wrote in the letter dated Wednesday. “The NFL’s influence and reach provide a crucial opportunity to use this incident as a catalyst for preventing avoidable deaths, both within sports and beyond.”
Hurts, who was in his fifth season as Philadelphia’s starting quarterback, had played six games before being sidelined. He previously earned Super Bowl MVP honors when the Eagles clinched the championship two years ago.