Kenneth Walker III’s message to Jalen Hurts came from his own experience. The Kansas City Chiefs running back, who dealt with blood clots in high school before winning Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks last February, urged the Philadelphia Eagles QB to “stay positive” after the recent setback.
Walker spoke days after the Eagles announced on Oct. 19 that Hurts’ blood clots had reached his lungs. He also reacted to Hurts flying back from London after the clot was diagnosed, a decision that has raised questions about how Philadelphia handled their QB’s health issue.
Kenneth Walker III Gets Honest on Jalen Hurts’ Blood Clots’ Diagnosis
When asked about Hurts, Walker pointed to his own past. “You know, obviously, I guess you know about what happened in high school, like with the blood clots and everything,” he said. “But he went on the flight, huh? That’s crazy.”
Notably, Walker’s advice went beyond staying upbeat. He said Hurts should “do all the things necessary that he needs to do to get his body back right,” adding, “But yeah, I’ll be praying for him because that’s not something we should take lightly.”
Hurts’ diagnosis is expected to keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season. Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in London found a superficial clot in Hurts’ calf on Oct. 10, the day before the Eagles’ Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was cleared to play and went 21-of-40 for 220 yards, with a 62-yard touchdown to Darius Cooper, in a 19-17 loss. Then he flew back to the U.S. with the team.
The Eagles QB’s condition got worse in stages after he got home. A follow-up exam in Philadelphia on Oct. 14 showed the clot had moved, so the Eagles ruled him out of Week 6 and placed him on injured reserve.
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Philadelphia lost 25-14 to the Carolina Panthers without him. A joint statement from the team and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, then revealed the new diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, with clots in both lungs.
Hurts is being treated with blood thinners, and a full recovery is expected. The Athletic reported that the NFL will not punish the Eagles because the league concluded the process that cleared Hurts to play in London was handled appropriately.
In a statement Tuesday, the NFL also said it “had been in contact throughout the process with the Eagles medical personnel, and the Cleveland Clinic in London where the tests were conducted.”
However, the NFL Players Association pushed back that night: “Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred.” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell answered the union’s request Wednesday: “We welcome that.”
The Eagles (2-4) host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field, their second straight game without Hurts.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.