Written by Zachary Bayers, Editor-in-Chief
Jalen Hurts, the Eagle’s iconic quarterback, has recently been confirmed to be severely diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli; otherwise known as blood clots within his lungs. Originally, an ultrasound on Oct. 10 found a superficial blood clot in his left calf. Despite the concerns, he played against the London Jacksonville Jaguars the day after, and his health continued to decline. Once more severities were discovered, the Philadelphia Eagles social media and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, posted this in response to the situation this past Monday:
“Over the last few days, Jalen Hurts has received comprehensive medical evaluations by physician experts. In the interest of transparency, we are providing additional information on the diagnosis and treatment plan related to his condition. […] Jalen’s prognosis is very good, and we expect a full recovery. We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners. In the meantime, he will remain active around the team and continue to condition. More importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects. We are thinking of Jalen and looking forward to a strong recovery.”
Despite the positive reception the Eagles have provided in regards to Hurts’ health, Philly and Eagles fans alike have expressed their frustrations online about how the medical team handled the situation, saying the decision to make him play in the London game was “medical malpractice.” Many have voiced their concerns that playing football became a priority over his health, causing his condition to worsen as a result. Fans are anxious that the result could be catastrophic: ending his career permanently, or worse, his life. While Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the football season, the medical team has assured the public that this will only be a temporary setback.
As Tanner McKee takes the mantle of starting quarterback for the Eagles, only time will tell whether Jalen Hurts will ever be able to play football again. We can only hope that he makes a healthy, speedy, and smooth recovery.
