10/21/2026 05:32:00
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10/21 17:31 CDT NFL welcomes a review of how Eagles handled Jalen Hurts' blood
clots, Roger Goodell says
NFL welcomes a review of how Eagles handled Jalen Hurts' blood clots, Roger
Goodell says
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- The NFL welcomes an investigation into the Philadelphia
Eagles' handling of Jalen Hurts' blood clots after the players' union asked for
one, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday.
Goodell said in his news conference at the end of the NFL's annual fall meeting
that Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, has gone through the
steps that were followed and added that the union had a right to call for a
review.
"Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were
incredibly good there," Goodell said. "The protocols were followed. Our process
is to make sure that's the case, and our chief medical officer has gone through
that, so we're comfortable that what we've seen in the protocols have happened."
Sills on Tuesday offered a passionate defense of the Eagles medical staff. The
NFL said officials were in touch with team doctors and trainers, as well as the
Cleveland Clinic in London, where the Eagles were playing the Jaguars on Oct.
11.
League executive vice president Jeff Miller said officials had a good sense of
the course of events, which included Hurts being evaluated at a hospital the
day before the game. Miller disputed a report that Hurts was awake for more
than 30 hours before playing against Jacksonville, saying that the 28-year-old
returned to the hotel and slept for roughly seven or eight hours.
Hurts is on injured reserve and expected to miss the rest of the season after a
blood clot in his left calf traveled to his lungs. The Eagles and agent Nicole
Lynn said Monday that Hurts has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary
emboli.
His treatment involves blood thinners, and Hurts will not be allowed to
participate in any football activities until he is off them.
Goodell downplayed the role that international travel may have had in the
situation.
"The most important thing here is Jalen's health, ultimately, and the future of
him," Goodell said. "He's a wonderful young man: not just a great player, but
he's someone we all care deeply about. I'm more worried about his health,
ultimately, but the protocols were followed."
Sills said Tuesday the decision to allow someone with a blood clot to fly
depends on several variables, including the location, a patient's history and
more.
"What I can tell you is expert people getting a lot of opinions," Sills said.
"This isn't just one doctor saying yay or nay. You're going to poll a panel of
experts both within the team and outside the team to get the best judgment and
experience with a particular condition."
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., wrote a letter to Goodell asking
questions about how the situation was handled and requesting a briefing for her
office and members of the committee on health, education, labor and pensions.
Blunt Rochester said her husband died at age 52 after tearing an Achilles
tendon playing basketball and having blood clots travel to his heart and lungs.
"I am deeply relieved that Mr. Hurts' story did not end the way my husband's
did," she wrote in the letter dated Wednesday. "The NFL's influence and reach
offer a vital opportunity to turn this tragedy into a force for preventing lost
lives both in sports and outside of it."
Hurts was six games into his fifth season as Philadelphia's starting
quarterback. He was Super Bowl MVP when the Eagles won it all two years ago.
___
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