The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the remainder of the season after doctors identified multiple blood clots in his lungs.
During Philadelphia’s Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Hurts suffered an accidental cleat to his calf. A precautionary ultrasound performed in London on October 10 revealed a superficial clot, yet the team cleared him to continue playing.
Following the Eagles’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, a follow‑up ultrasound showed the clot had migrated, prompting Philadelphia to place Hurts on injured reserve—a move that would have kept him out for four games.
However, after discovering multiple clots in his lungs on Monday, the Eagles shut down Hurts for the year, prioritizing his health. His agent said he will be sidelined for approximately three months while undergoing treatment. Although a full recovery is expected, the lung clots transformed a manageable issue into an urgent medical situation.
What does this mean for the Eagles?
Even before Hurts’ injury, Philadelphia was facing challenges, and his absence makes head coach Nick Sirianni’s job considerably tougher.
In Tanner McKee’s first start as Hurts’ replacement, the Eagles fell 25‑14, and the backup quarterback struggled.
McKee completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown.
It is evident that McKee is not the answer to Philadelphia’s offensive problems—a fact that was apparent prior to Week 6. He also failed to surpass journeyman veteran Andy Dalton, who was released and declined to rejoin the Eagles this week.
On Monday morning Dalton signed with the Atlanta Falcons, confirming he will not be available to Philadelphia.
The Eagles also added Joe Milton from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, and he will share backup duties with Cole Payton.
Given the limited passing attack, running the ball becomes difficult, but leaning heavily on Saquon Barkley could help. DeVonta Smith’s reception of McKee’s touchdown pass offers a positive note.
The NFC East appears wide open after the disappointing performances of the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. Meanwhile, the New York Giants demonstrated they are not invincible, even as John Harbaugh found success with Jameis Winston after losing Jaxson Dart for the season.
The question remains whether a trade‑market quarterback could meaningfully alter the Eagles’ outlook. For now, the prudent path is to hope for Hurts’ full recovery and prepare for the 2027 NFL Draft.
