NFL Says Independent Medical Experts Will Review Jalen Hurts' Blood Clot Care
Responding to Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, the league said neutral physicians will share findings with the NFL and NFLPA, though the joint review still hasn't formally begun
Independent medical experts will examine how Jalen Hurts' blood clots were handled and share their findings with the NFL and the NFL Players Association as part of the two sides' joint review, ESPN's Tim McManus reported Friday.
The details came in the league's response to U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, who wrote to Roger Goodell in October seeking answers about Hurts' care and the league's blood clot protocols. Her office released a statement from Jeff Miller, the NFL's executive vice president of communications, public affairs and health policy:
Miller added that the league has tracked clotting disorders among players every season for at least the past decade through a subcommittee of its General Medical Committee.
The joint review hasn't officially started, with the league and union still working out its parameters. The NFLPA, which called for a full investigation in October, has not invoked Article 39 of the CBA, which lets the union launch a formal investigation into medical care provided by club-affiliated personnel, but some of its guidelines will be used. Under the CBA, the neutral physicians must issue a written report within 60 days of their selection, and both sides must act on their recommendations.
Hurts was first diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in London before the Eagles' Week 5 game against the Jaguars. He played, flew home with the team and practiced fully the following Wednesday before a follow-up ultrasound that evening showed the clot had moved. Philadelphia placed him on injured reserve Oct. 17, and two days later a joint statement from the team and his agent, Nicole Lynn, said he had a deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. The blood thinners he is taking keep him from any contact, and the 28-year-old is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Without him, the Eagles are 2-7 and last in the NFC East after benching Tanner McKee for Joe Milton. They return from their bye Nov. 22 against the Steelers.