Doctors say the clots in Jalen Hurts’ lungs could trace back to a calf injury from earlier this month. The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback may miss the rest of the season.
What the Eagles Announced
The team said on Monday that Hurts, 28, has deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in both lungs. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a clot in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis.
The trouble may have started on October 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, when another player stepped on his calf with a cleat. Hurts told trainers about the injury before flying to London for the team’s game there. An ultrasound in the UK showed a clot in a surface vein of his left calf.
Doctors advised him to stay active, and he played against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 11. Back in Philadelphia, a new scan showed the clot had shifted slightly. He was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Then came the news that the clot had reached his lungs.
How an Injury Can Cause a Clot
Dr. Syed Zaidi, a vascular surgeon at Orlando Health, said an injury triggers inflammation around the damaged area. That raises the risk of a clot forming.
He added that long flights can make things worse. Sitting still and losing fluids thicken the blood. Some surface clots also hide a deeper one, or can travel into a deep vein.
Other causes include long periods of inactivity, family history, smoking, cancer, diabetes, Covid-19, obesity and some medications. Pregnancy raises the risk too. In some cases, the cause is never found.
Warning Signs to Watch
A leg clot can cause swelling, cramps and pain. The skin may feel warm or look red or purple. Dr. Parth Rali, a lung specialist who directs the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team at Temple Health, said calf pain that does not ease after about five days of stretching and drinking water deserves attention. He urged people not to wait and to get an ultrasound.
A clot that reaches the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism. It can cause:
- chest pain that worsens with deep breaths or coughing
- sudden shortness of breath
- a cough with blood-streaked mucus
- dizziness, faintness or confusion
- a fast or irregular heartbeat
In severe cases, it can lead to heart failure or cardiac arrest. Rali said these signs are easy to mistake for asthma or a viral infection.
Treatment and Recovery
Patients with lung clots usually take blood thinners such as heparin or warfarin for at least three to six months. Rali said that is roughly how long the body needs to break down a clot.
Blood thinners raise the risk of bleeding, so doctors tell patients to avoid contact sports. That rules out football for now. Severe cases may need catheter treatment or surgery.
The Eagles said Hurts has a good outlook, expects a full recovery and can return to football once he stops the blood thinners.
Clots are common. Nearly 900,000 people in the US are diagnosed with a leg or lung clot each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 60,000 to 100,000 die annually from related conditions. Other athletes have faced the same problem, including Taylor Moton, Victor Wembanyama and Serena Williams.
How to Lower Your Risk
Staying active is the best protection. Desk workers should stand, stretch and walk often. On long flights, get up once an hour or do calf pumps in your seat. Drink plenty of water and consider compression socks.
Quitting smoking, keeping a healthy weight and not crossing your legs while sitting also help.
