Jalen Hurts blood clot: Expert weighs in on Eagles' situation, and when QB could return to the field

A cardiologist weighs in on how Hurts’ condition contrasts with DVTs, standard treatment methods and what could determine the recovery timeline

Jalen Hurts' 2026 season was put on pause this week, as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot that had experienced some movement and the team placed him on IR on Saturday. The team diagnosed the clot and informed the league of Hurts' situation last week, but he was cleared to suit up and play in their Week 5 London loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the clot, the team announced that Hurts would have to sit out for at least one week while they treated him. It initially looked like the quarterback would avoid injured reserve, but ESPN reported Saturday afternoon that after consultations with doctors and experts, the Eagles decided to place Hurts on injured reserve — meaning he will miss at least the next four games.

What is a superficial blood clot and how much time could Hurts miss? CBS Sports spoke to Dr. Henry Han at UT Southwestern to get some answers. Dr. Han is a board certified cardiologist that works at the intersection of cardiology and vascular medicine. He has seen clot-related diseases, diseases related to aneurysms, tears in blood vessels, and is very familiar with superficial vein thrombosis. A superficial blood clot could be classified as "superficial thrombophlebitis," or a much easier term: "superficial