The Philadelphia Eagles have placed quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve after the team confirmed he is dealing with a serious blood clot condition.
The team and Hurts’ agent released a joint statement confirming he has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.
While the Eagles had previously disclosed a blood clot in Hurts’ leg, the bilateral pulmonary emboli diagnosis involving multiple clots in the lungs represented a significant new development.
Deep vein thrombosis, commonly known as DVT, occurs when a clot forms in a vein deep inside the body, most often in the leg, where veins carry blood back toward the heart.
This is medically distinct from superficial blood clots, which form closer to the skin and were part of Hurts’ original diagnosis earlier in the season.
The distinction between deep and superficial clots is critical, because deep-vein clots are more likely to break loose and travel through the heart into the lungs.
Once a clot lodges in an artery in the lungs, the result is a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt medical treatment.
Research has found that professional athletes can take more than six months to return to play after being treated for a deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
Despite the severity of the diagnosis, Hurts’ prognosis is described as “very good,” and he is expected to make a “full recovery” according to the joint statement from the team and his agent.
As part of his treatment, Hurts will be placed on blood thinners and is unable to return to the football field until he has fully recovered from the condition.
Professional athletes are not uniquely susceptible to DVT and pulmonary embolism, as it is estimated that half a million people in the United States are affected by the condition each year.
However, several risk factors are particularly common in the professional athlete lifestyle, including injury, immobilization, dehydration, and long-distance travel, especially by air.
These factors can combine to significantly elevate the risk of clot formation, making awareness and early detection especially important for players and medical staff across professional sports.
Hurts’ situation has brought renewed public attention to a condition that medical professionals describe as “incredibly common,” even among elite and highly conditioned athletes.
