# Jalen Hurts' blood clot diagnosis raises long-term career concerns
_Sports medicine expert warns of ongoing risks despite expected recovery_

- Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in)
- Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/jalen-hurts-blood-clot-diagnosis-raises-long-term-career-concerns
- Author: Apex Sports Desk, Sports news desk (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/apex-sports-desk)
- Published: 2026-10-19T16:30:00.000Z
- Section: Basketball > NBA
- Topics: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles, NFL
## Summary

Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 NFL season after blood clots were found in his lungs following a game in London. A sports medicine expert says he may face increased clot risks for life due to travel, hits, and medical history.

## Key takeaways

- Hurts has started five games this season, completing 89 of 154 passes for 933 yards and eight touchdowns
- He was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London
- The Eagles confirmed he has no significant functional limitations and expects full recovery with no long-term effects
- Jesse Morse, a sports medicine expert, said Hurts will be at increased risk of future blood clots due to occupation and health history
- Players on blood thinners cannot play contact sports, potentially requiring lifelong medication to prevent clots

## Article

The Philadelphia Eagles' 2026 NFL season took a sharp turn after Week 6, leaving them with a 2-4 record and now without their starting quarterback for the remainder of the year. Jalen Hurts, the 28-year-old signal caller, is set to miss the rest of the season after medical tests revealed multiple blood clots in his lungs. The clots were discovered following the Eagles' 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on October 11, 2026, where Hurts had travelled with the team before being flown back for treatment.

## Medical outlook and expert concerns

The Eagles announced on Monday that Hurts has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Despite the seriousness of the condition, the team stated he is clinically stable with no significant functional limitations. His treatment involves anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, and the Eagles expect a full recovery with no long-term effects. They added that Hurts will remain active around the team and continue conditioning during his recovery period.

However, Jesse Morse, a sports medicine expert based in Miami, Florida, cautioned that the injury could have lasting implications. In a post on X, Morse said that even if Hurts recovers fully, he will face an elevated risk of developing blood clots in the future. Morse cited several risk factors: the current presence of multiple clots in the lungs, frequent travel tied to his occupation, recurrent hits from playing football, a history of COVID-19 infection, and a history of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

> He will always be at increased risk for blood clots
> — Jesse Morse

Morse further explained that players cannot participate in contact sports while on blood thinners due to the danger of severe bleeding from trauma. To prevent future clots, given Hurts' risk profile, the only viable option may be to remain on anticoagulant medication indefinitely—likely for the rest of his life. This raises questions about the long-term feasibility of his return to NFL play, even if he recovers from the current episode.

Before his injury, Hurts had started five games for the Eagles in the 2026 season. He completed 89 of 154 passing attempts for 933 yards and threw eight touchdowns. His absence leaves the Eagles without their primary quarterback as they navigate a challenging stretch of the season. The team will now rely on backup options while Hurts focuses on recovery under medical supervision.

### Sources

- Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/us-sports/jalen-hurts-blood-clot-injury-could-cost-him-more-than-this-season-sports-medicine-expert-explains-101792443725726.html
- nfl.com: https://www.nfl.com/news/eagles-qb-jalen-hurts-out-2026-season-blood-clots
- Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jalen\_Hurts\_11-14-22\_(cropped).jpg
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