Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, 28, was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots in both lungs after initially being treated for a superficial vein thrombosis in his left calf. The clot appeared after he was "cleated" during an early October game. Experts say a leg injury can trigger inflammation that raises clot risk, though it's also possible the clots existed independently and the superficial clot was simply found first.
DVT is more serious than superficial thrombosis because clots can travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Standard care is anticoagulation, or blood thinners, for 3–6 months to stabilize existing clots and prevent new ones. While on this therapy, high-impact contact sports like football are off-limits because of the elevated risk of bleeding from cuts or head trauma.
Despite the severity, the team's statement says Hurts' prognosis is "very good" with no expected long-term effects. Pulmonologist Bushra Mina added that patients should remain active during recovery, warning that avoiding exercise could lead to shortness of breath months later. The case highlights that young athletes can develop serious blood clots, especially after leg injuries. (MedPage Today, in collaboration with Northwell Health, reported this story.)