PHILADELPHIA, PA. (THECOUNT) — Jalen Hurts, the star quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, will miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season after doctors diagnosed him with blood clots in both lungs, a serious medical development that has taken on added personal significance because his father died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism.
Hurts, 28, spoke with TMZ about his father’s death and the warning sign the family recognized only in hindsight, describing how a blood clot that began in his father’s leg traveled to his lung.
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“This is extremely serious. A pulmonary embolism is what killed my dad very suddenly and unexpectedly,” Hurts told TMZ. “All beginning with a clot that began in his leg, broke off, and went to his lung. The only warning sign we had in hindsight was his complaint of some mild pain in his leg the night before we lost him.”
The Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, confirmed Monday, Oct. 19, that the quarterback’s current diagnosis is deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning blood clots in both lungs. The announcement followed additional medical evaluations after an earlier clot was detected in his left calf.
Hurts was initially diagnosed with a superficial vein thrombosis in his left calf after the team traveled to London. A follow-up ultrasound later revealed movement in the clot, and the Eagles ruled him out for their game against Carolina before placing him on injured reserve Saturday, Oct. 17.
According to the team and Lynn, Hurts is clinically stable and will be treated with anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners. He cannot participate in contact activities, including football, while undergoing treatment.
The team said Hurts’ prognosis is very good and that doctors expect a full recovery without long-term effects. He is expected to remain involved with the team and continue conditioning as his treatment allows, but he will not return to play this season.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs. Such clots can travel through the bloodstream, often originating in deep veins in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism can become life-threatening and require prompt medical evaluation.
Hurts’ comments about his father underscore how difficult it can be to recognize the significance of symptoms that initially seem mild. In the account he gave TMZ, his father’s leg pain the night before his death was the only warning sign the family later recalled.
The Eagles entered the week with a 2-4 record after losing to the Carolina Panthers. With Hurts sidelined, backup quarterback Tanner McKee is set to lead Philadelphia as the team works through its injury concerns.
Philadelphia is located in southeastern Pennsylvania along the Delaware River and is the home market of the Eagles. The team plays its home games at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia; the map link below identifies the stadium for geographic context, not the location of Hurts’ medical treatment.
Google Maps: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
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