Joe Banner has little patience for the competing victory laps surrounding Jalen Hurts’ health scare.
As questions mount over the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback’s medical treatment, the franchise’s former president criticized people turning incomplete information into ammunition. In his view, that includes both Hurts’ critics and those celebrating his willingness to play.
Joe Banner Criticizes Both Sides of the Jalen Hurts Debate
“Some people did unfairly use the moment to take a shot at Eagles or Hurts, others used it to declare the greatness of Hurts & his commitment,”Banner wrote.
“Both totally wrong, with premature reporting & equally guilty of all those stories early on. Both are part of the problem not the solution.”
Banner did not name individual commentators or identify specific reports in the post. His criticism addressed the rush to make Hurts’ condition fit an existing opinion about the quarterback or organization.
That includes praise. Treating Hurts’ participation as evidence of exceptional toughness can also get ahead of the medical facts, which is the distinction Banner wanted to make.
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A serious diagnosis gives observers plenty to discuss without turning it into another referendum on a player’s commitment.
His comments followedLouis Riddick’s call for medical experts to lead the coverage. The ESPN analyst urged a more careful approach to a story involving a player’s health.
Hurts’ football performance had already been under scrutiny. He ranks No. 22 with a 69.6 grade inPFN’s QB Impact rankings through Week 6. Banner’s objection was to carrying those football judgments into conclusions about his medical situation.
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The latest developments show why definitive conclusions remain contentious.
On October 19, the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, announced that further testing had identified deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning blood clots in both lungs. Specialists in London had initially diagnosed a superficial clot in his left calf.
The joint statement described Hurts as clinically stable and said a full recovery was expected. He cannot participate in contact football while receiving blood-thinner treatment, although the statement said he would remain around the team and continue conditioning.
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On Tuesday, the NFL defended the Eagles’ handling of the situation. Chief medical officer Allen Sills supported the medical team’s approach, while the NFL Players Association called for a full investigation.
“Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward,” the union said.
Those questions concern the care Hurts received and how the decisions were reached. Banner’s message leaves room for that scrutiny. What he rejected was the impulse to decide what the story proves about Hurts before the full account is available.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.