Eagles under fire after Jalen Hurts played on no sleep due to blood clot risk

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Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts did not sleep due to a hospital stay the night before Philadelphia’s loss to the Jaguars in London last Sunday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport — leaving many to question why the 28-year-old was cleared to play in the game hours later.

Hurts — who was ruled out for the season with blood clots in his left leg and lungs on Monday — reportedly was in the hospital until 4 a.m. and did not sleep because sleep was a risk. Despite being up for roughly 36 hours, per The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero, he played the entirety of Philadelphia’s loss to Jacksonville.

“Jalen Hurts was overseas, under-rested and dealing with a blood clot while playing without key offensive weapons at his disposal and ran the ball only twice (maybe as a way of self-preservation knowing what he was dealing with). Just one question: Why?” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo wrote on X.

“That entire Eagles medical staff should be fired!” former “SportsCenter” anchor Linda Cohn wrote. “He should not have been allowed to board that plane to London! He was complaining about the calf pain and they did nothing! And why did they wait to get to London before taking the first ultrasound!!?!?”

After that, he was ruled out against the Panthers last Thursday, when the team explained that an ultrasound performed in London revealed a superficial blood clot in his leg.

Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, explained Monday that after further testing and monitoring, “the current diagnosis is a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.”

Hurts’ agent added that the quarterback’s treatment “should only involve blood thinners” and he will still be around the Eagles while undergoing treatment.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

The Eagles said last week that Hurts first reported issues with his calf on Oct. 8 after he was cleated during Philadelphia’s Week 4 loss to the Rams.

A “superficial blood clot” was discovered during an evaluation Saturday before the Eagles’ loss to the Jaguars in London — and the team said medical staff and doctors determined that “Jalen could safely play” against Jacksonville.

“Jalen played without limitation in the game Sunday, received treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and practiced in full on Wednesday, as reflected in the practice report,” the team said Thursday. “Throughout our time in London and this week, we have remained in communication with the league office regarding the matter.”

A follow-up exam Wednesday “revealed movement in the small blood clot,” the team said.

Hurts completed 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Jaguars.

Backup Tanner McKee threw for 215 yards and a touchdown in his season debut, a 25-14 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.

The offense struggled, mostly due to self-inflicted errors.

Philadelphia’s defense held the Panthers to only 24 rushing yards in the first half, but then allowed over 100 in the second half alone.

“We all have to do better,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said after the game. “The whole consensus here is it’s not just one thing. It’s not just one player on an island, It’s not just one coach on an island. This is a team game, an ultimate team game, and we all have things that get better.”