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Now Everyone’s a Blood Clot Expert
By Matt Schultz
Published:
Jalen Hurts has a blood clot. Not good:
Rap Sheet:
“On Thursday, October 8th, Jalen visited the training room after practice requesting treatment for his calf. He informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4th. This was his first treatment session for the calf injury following the game, after having practiced in full both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Jalen 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. The ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot. Our medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play. Doctors recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia.
“Jalen played without limitation in the game Sunday, received treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and practiced in full on Wednesday, as reflected in the practice report. Throughout our time in London and this week, we have remained in communication with the league office regarding the matter.
“On Wednesday night, a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the small blood clot. Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment. His health and safety are our highest priority.”
So far, all we know is that Jalen has a small blood clot in his leg — possibly from being cleated during the Rams game — and after being cleared to play against Jacksonville, an ultrasound showed that it moved a little by the time he got back to Philly from London. Because of that movement, the Eagles have ruled Jalen out for Sunday’s game against Carolina, and there is no current timetable for his return.
Not good!
I’m not exactly sure what to think of all this. Blood clots seem like a real gray area in sports. Feel like more and more players are getting them every year, but I truly can’t tell you how serious they are. Sometimes people act like they’re life-threatening. Other times people say they’re no big deal. Seems like no one ever really knows. But that doesn’t stop people from weighing in.
I went out and rounded up blood clot analysis from a bunch of people around the internet, because apparently everyone on X knows about blood clots. I am excited to learn. Here we go:
A doctor
“They flew to London, which can cause blood clots with immobilization in flights. He was checked again in London, and apparently an ultrasound revealed a small superficial blood clot. So not deep vein thrombosis — superficial vein thrombosis. And as a result of that, was cleared to play.
Deep vein thrombosis is what is difficult and dangerous. Superficial can progress to deep. Right now they’re saying superficial. The Eagles are taking every precaution. But here’s the issue: What caused it? Was it inactivity on the flight and the cleating, and accidental and superficial? Or is there now potentially a deeper issue? Does he need to be anti-coagulated? If he needs blood thinners, he will be ruled out because of the risk of bleed, especially a hit to the head could brain bleed. You can’t have that. Until we figure out the cause of this, we don’t know the cure. But any time a blood clot is involved, it easily could involve multiple weeks.”
A second doctor
“It was initially described as a superficial, which means it was more closer to the skin. The problem with blood clots is that they are basically a clot in a blood vessel. Think of a little clot in a garden hose. The problem is it doesn’t have to stay there, and sometimes they can move. And if it moves it can clog something that the clot is bigger than the hole where it goes. Whether that’s in the lungs, whether that’s in the heart, whether that’s in the brain. So they determined that it was small enough that he was able to play through it in the London game. Flies back across the Atlantic to Philly. Now they look at it again and they say, ‘Uh oh. The blood clot moved.’ Add the risk to play internationally which significantly increases the risk of developing a blood clot because of the amount of time between when you suffered it, flying back, flying across the country, the immobility, the trauma increases the risk of developing the clot. Then you play a game, very strenuous on your body. Then you have to turn around and fly back across the Atlantic… and all of these are adding up.
Either he has to have surgery to have his blood clot removed, or he has to be put on blood thinners. If he is put on blood thinners, his season is over. It will be a minimum three months, most commonly six months, and for reference, this happened to Chris Olave last year and he… was put on blood thinners in December, and he didn’t get off blood thinners until, I think it was June. And then he could start ramping up. Why can’t you play on blood thinners? It’s like having a faucet turned on and you can’t turn it off… It’s not safe to take a hit… If you tear something, you can’t stop the bleeding. You will bleed out, and you’ll die.“
Additional information:
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) October 15, 2026
1. If he undergoes a small surgery to remove the clot (if applicable):
The incision heals in about 7–10 days.
He could miss 1-2 games
2. If the SVT ≥5 cm, or within about 3 cm of the saphenopopliteal junction:
Start standard treatment is about 45…
A self-described non-doctor who seems to have made an Eagles-colored chart about blood clots anyway
Kimmo Timonen, who thinks blood clots are no big deal/only a baby would whine about having them/says they go away without medicine
Good stuff from everybody. I’ve learned a lot:
- Blood clots are terrifying.
- Jalen could be out for two-ish weeks (if he gets the surgery) or for the rest of the season (if he goes on blood thinners).
- The flight to London might’ve made the blood clot worse. Thank you for that, NFL.
- This Eagles season is probably cooked.
- Sounds like Kimmo Timonen may be living with hundreds of blood clots right now and is choosing to ignore them.
First and foremost, let’s all hope Jalen gets through this health scare without any complications. After that, let’s hope we see him back on the field sooner than later. After that, let’s hope Kimmo Timonen goes to a doctor.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…) email: M.Schultz@sportradar.com