PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 NFL season after additional medical testing revealed blood clots in both lungs, creating another challenge for a team struggling to find consistency.
The Eagles announced Monday that Hurts had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, a condition involving blood clots in deep veins, and bilateral pulmonary emboli, which occur when blood clots travel to both lungs. The diagnosis followed an earlier discovery of a clot in his left calf.
Given the severity of the diagnosis, Hurts is said to be in stable condition. He is being treated with blood thinners that prevent the current clot from getting bigger and reduce the chance of new clots forming. The Eagles are hopeful that he will recover, but it is uncertain when he will return to football.
Hurts’ health issues began when he hurt his left calf in Philadelphia’s game against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 4. Then he was tested and found to have a blood clot. Further evaluation cleared the quarterback to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 11.
However, further testing later revealed that the clot had moved, leading doctors to conduct additional examinations. Those evaluations ultimately uncovered the more serious condition affecting his lungs.
On Monday, Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, and many other reports indicated that Hurts will miss the remainder of the season, with his recovery potentially requiring several months. Although the Eagles have not established a definitive return date, his immediate priority is completing treatment and recovering safely.
The timing could hardly be worse for Philadelphia. The Eagles have lost four consecutive games and entered the week with a 2-4 record following a 25-14 defeat against the Carolina Panthers. Their recent performances have raised concerns about the offense, and losing their starting quarterback adds another obstacle as the team attempts to regain momentum.
With Hurts unavailable against Carolina, backup quarterback Tanner McKee received the opportunity to start. McKee threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, but Philadelphia struggled to maintain offensive momentum throughout the game.
Hurts’ absence also places greater responsibility on the coaching staff to find a solution at quarterback while improving the team’s overall offensive execution.
In five starts before the injury, Hurts threw for 933 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Those numbers are indicative of his ability to produce in the passing game, but consistency had already become an issue for Philadelphia’s offense.
Hurts has developed into one of the organization’s cornerstones since becoming the Eagles’ starting quarterback in late 2020. His ability to make plays with his arm and legs has helped define Philadelphia’s offensive identity. He later secured his spot in franchise history by winning a Super Bowl with the franchise after the 2024 season.
Now, the Eagles must determine how to remain competitive without the quarterback who has helped lead them through some of the franchise’s most successful recent seasons.
Hurts needs to get better, so McKee should get some more chances. But replacing Hurts is more than just finding another player who can complete passes. Philadelphia also has to take into account the mobility, the decision-making and the leadership that its starting quarterback brings to the offense.
The Eagles are scheduled to face the Dallas Cowboys next Monday night in a divisional matchup. With both teams entering the contest at 2-4, the game carries added importance as Philadelphia attempts to prevent its early-season struggles from becoming more difficult to overcome.
For the Eagles, the immediate focus is on Hurts’ health and determining how the team will move forward without him. The organization remains optimistic about his long-term recovery, but the loss of its starting quarterback leaves significant questions about Philadelphia’s ability to turn its season around.
As the Eagles prepare for the weeks ahead, their response to this setback could determine whether they remain in contention or fall further behind in the NFC East.
