PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers after the team announced Thursday he has a small "superficial blood clot" in his calf. The team said it is holding him out of Sunday's game out of an abundance of caution after a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the clot.
The team released a full statement via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network detailing the timeline. According to the statement, Hurts visited the training room on Thursday, October 8 after practice requesting treatment for his calf and informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4. That was his first treatment session for the injury after practicing in full both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, he received treatment, practiced in full and was added to the practice report.
Out of an abundance of caution, an ultrasound was performed on Saturday following the team's flight to London and walkthrough, which revealed the superficial blood clot. The statement said medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Hurts could safely play, with a recommendation for a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia. Hurts played without limitation in the game Sunday, received treatment on Monday and Tuesday and practiced in full on Wednesday, and the team said it remained in communication with the league office throughout its time in London and this week. On Wednesday night, the follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the small blood clot, and the team said Hurts will be out for Sunday's game vs. the Panthers as it determines the appropriate course of treatment, adding his health and safety are the highest priority.
With Hurts sidelined for a game the team had viewed as a must-win to get its season back on track, Philadelphia's thin quarterback depth chart points to Tanner McKee to make the start. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stanford, McKee has appeared in six career games and completed 61.4% of his passes for 597 yards and 5 touchdowns. This would be his first start since Week 17 of 2024, when the Eagles rested their starters against a 3-13 Giants team.