Jalen Hurts played through a blood clot. Are NFL players cattle?

The Eagles quarterback’s recent health issues highlight how football’s toughness culture puts its players at risk

Jalen Hurts is likely to miss the rest of the season after an ultrasound revealed blood clots in his lungs. Thankfully, he’s now restricted from playing for the immediate future, meaning he won’t be risking serious complications – or even his life – as he did when he played in their Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

Hurts complained to the Eagles medical staff of calf pain on 8 October, according to ESPN. The Eagles say that Hurts flew to London with the rest of the team and, out of an “abundance of caution,” was given an ultrasound. The test found a superficial clot in his calf. Doing the ultrasound before the flight would’ve been the most prudent thing. The same for making him inactive after the clot was found. But instead, he played in the game on 11 October, as the medical staff and doctors in London agreed “that activity and mobility were important.” Hurts also practiced all last week before a follow-up ultrasound also found clots in his lungs.

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