A doctor issues a serious warning about Jalen Hurts: "Don't be surprised when the next news is that his season is over"

Jalen Hurts' situation became even more complicated. The Philadelphia Eagles officially placed their quarterback on Injured Reserve (IR) due to the superficial blood clot detected in his calf, so he will have to miss at least the next four games.

The decision came after consulting with several doctors and specialists and leaves Hurts sidelined for an indefinite period. The move does not mean his season is over, but it does open the door to a much longer absence than initially expected.

Sports doctor Brian Sutterer warned that the situation could be more serious than expected. Although he is not part of the Eagles' medical team and has not examined Hurts, he pointed out that the next news could be that the quarterback will not play again this season.

Treatment will be key to knowing when he can return

Philadelphia has not yet announced what the definitive treatment will be. The franchise has stated that the clot is treatable and that the decision on when he will be able to play again will depend on the doctors overseeing his recovery.

One of the possibilities is the use of anticoagulants. In cases that present certain risk factors, this treatment may be prolonged for around 45 days and would complicate Hurts' return because it is a contact sport, due to the risk of bleeding.

Hematologist Jordan Schaefer, of the University of Michigan, explained that this type of clot requires ongoing monitoring and that a single check-up is not necessarily enough.

"A lot of the time, what we do is follow people closely over time. It is not just a one-time visit and that's it", Schaefer explained. The specialist pointed out that doctors usually reassess how the patient is feeling and check whether signs such as swelling or redness have improved.

Schaefer also wanted to draw attention to an issue that can go unnoticed among athletes. "People often don't think about it in athletes and in those who don't have many other risk factors," he explained, before highlighting the importance of paying attention to symptoms both in athletes and in people who do not play sports.

The doctor added that the first symptoms—pain, swelling, redness, or sensations different from the usual—can easily be mistaken for a muscle injury. That is why he considers it important to detect these problems early: "We often want to catch these things fairly early. It can potentially get worse".

'Head coach Nick Sirianni also made the organization's stance clear: "Jalen's health is of the utmost importance to all of us".'

A clot that changed the landscape

The problem originated during the game against the Los Angeles Rams on October 4, when Hurts took a cleat to the calf. Four days later he went to the medical area to receive treatment for that injury for the first time.

On October 10, already in London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, an ultrasound detected the superficial clot. Doctors then determined that he could play and considered that activity and mobility were important. Hurts played in the game and threw for 220 yards and a touchdown.

But a new ultrasound performed after the game showed movement in the clot. That finding led the Eagles to rule him out for the game against Carolina and, ultimately, to place him on injured reserve.

When could Jalen Hurts return?

His stay on IR forces Hurts to miss at least four games: Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders and New York Giants. Philadelphia will then have its bye week and the franchise will be able to reevaluate the quarterback's situation.

The franchise has not set a timetable, and his return will depend on the progression of the clot and the treatment chosen.

The setback also comes at a difficult time for Philadelphia. The Eagles began the season with a 2-3 record and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Hurts had thrown for 933 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions in his five games.

Tanner McKee takes command of the Eagles

With Hurts out, Tanner McKee will be the one in charge of leading Philadelphia's offense. The quarterback will take over as the starter against Carolina while the Eagles look to keep their offense competitive during the absence of their main star.

For now, the only certainty is that Hurts will be out for at least four games. The possibility that he may not play again this season exists as a scenario raised from outside the organization, but the Eagles have not announced that his season is over.

The evolution of the clot and the response to treatment will determine whether Hurts can return during the season or whether his absence ends up being much longer.