Jalen Hurts out with blood clot as Eagles add Joe Milton

It started as a calf. Hurts got asked about it midweek, and nobody walked away knowing more than they did going in.

ProFootballTalk

@ProFootballTalk

Wednesday’s comments from Jalen Hurts about a calf injury that popped up on the Friday injury report have put the entire situation into the “unsolved mystery” category.

About 3 hours later the mystery got a lot darker. The Eagles put out a long statement. Hurts told the medical staff he got cleated in the Rams game on October 4, then practiced in full twice before he ever asked for treatment. An ultrasound found a superficial blood clot, and he's out Sunday.

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet

Breaking: #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is out for Sunday due to a superficial blood clot. Full statement from the #Eagles on QB Jalen Hurts:   “On Thursday, October 8th, Jalen visited the training room after practice requesting treatment for his calf. He informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4th. This was his first treatment session for the calf injury following the game, after having practiced in full both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Jalen received treatment, practiced in full, and was added to the practice report.   “Out of an abundance of caution, an ultrasound was performed on Saturday following the team’s flight to London and walkthrough. The ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot. Our medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play. Doctors recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia.    “Jalen played without limitation in the game Sunday, received treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and practiced in full on Wednesday, as reflected in the practice report. Throughout our time in London and this week, we have remained in communication with the league office regarding the matter.     "On Wednesday night, a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the small blood clot. Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment. His health and safety are our highest priority.”

The full timeline is the part that makes you squirm. The clot was found during an evaluation in London, and the doctors decided Hurts could safely play vs. Jacksonville anyway. A follow-up exam this Wednesday showed the small clot had moved, and that's when the team shut him down. A clot that moves isn't a sore calf you play through. Ask any doctor what happens if one reaches the lungs.

So the backup takes over. Tanner McKee gets the first meaningful start of his career, since his only starts so far came in Week 18 the last 2 seasons, when Philly had the playoffs locked and rested Hurts. McKee is also headed for unrestricted free agency in March, so a real stretch as the starter could get him paid. Meanwhile the injury list kept growing around him, and by Wednesday afternoon the mood in Philly was gloomy.

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

That’s three opening day starters for the #Eagles in line to take the field Sunday against the #Panthers. It’s Week 6. A Murphy’s Law kind of season in Philly.

Zach Berman@ZBerm

Potential offensive starting lineup this weekend, if the roster/practice status as of Thursday's practice is an indication... QB: Tanner McKee RB: Dameon Pierce WR: Dontayvion Wicks WR: Makai Lemon WR: Darius Cooper TE: Dallas Goedert LT: Jordan Mailata LG: Willie Lampkin C: Drew Kendall/Jake Majors RG: Tyler Steen RT: Markell Bell

By Wednesday night, Sunday was the least of it. The word going around wasn't "week to week" anymore. It was "indefinitely," and the talk turned to what the Eagles look like with McKee for longer than 1 game. Andy Dalton's name came up too. Philly released him but kept a door open for him on the practice squad, and he's reportedly weighing offers from multiple teams.

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet

From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: Looking at what’s next for the #Eagles with QB Jalen Hurts out indefinitely, as Tanner McKee steps to the forefront.

Thursday morning brought a new question: who knew what, and when? Hurts was listed with a calf injury on the Friday report before the Jacksonville game, but the team already knew about the clot from London. The league says it talked with the Eagles about it before kickoff. Expect that word "calf" to get picked apart all week.

ProFootballTalk

@ProFootballTalk

NFL confirms it had pregame communications with the Eagles regarding the Jalen Hurts blood clot, which was disclosed only as a "calf" injury on Friday. t.co/MDbrbJkD2G

Nick Sirianni sure wasn't adding anything. At the podium he kept pointing back to the team statement and said Hurts' health comes first. The front office did make a move, though. They grabbed Joe Milton off the Cowboys practice squad. He's the big-armed 2024 sixth-round pick of the Patriots who got traded to Dallas in April 2025. Here's the room McKee is leading now.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Eagles’ QBs heading into Sunday’s game vs. Carolina: 🏈Tanner McKee 🏈Cole Payton 🏈Joe Milton

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter

Eagles are signing QB Joe Milton off the Cowboys practice squad, as @Schultz_Report also reported. t.co/ltiHtId5If

And the backfield got hit too. Barkley missed practice all week with the hamstring and was ruled out Thursday afternoon, his second straight missed game. Will Shipley went on IR with a foot injury, and Ian Wheeler got signed to the practice squad just to have a body. The one good bit of news: DeVonta Smith is off the report and will play.

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

The #Eagles have ruled out RB Saquon Barkley for Sunday against the #Panthers. He’ll miss a second straight game with a hamstring strain. With Will Shipley on IR, Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele are the lone healthy backs on the active roster, with Jaydon Blue and Ian Wheeler on the practice squad.

So it's Week 6 and the Eagles head to Carolina with a backup QB who's never had a start that mattered, Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele at running back, and a QB room that added a new guy on Thursday. The Panthers are catching them at the perfect time. The bigger question is Hurts himself. A clot that moved, an injury report that said "calf" and a coach who won't say more add up to no timeline. Until the Eagles put a date on his return, every week from here is McKee's audition.