NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday the league welcomes an investigation into how the Philadelphia Eagles handled quarterback Jalen Hurts’ blood clots, a day after the NFL told the players’ union it did not plan to review his care.
Goodell made the announcement at the NFL‘s annual fall meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. The reversal came after the NFL Players Association pushed for a formal review of the circumstances surrounding Hurts’ diagnosis, which followed an Oct. 11 game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Main Development
The Jalen Hurts medical care investigation stems from events that began during the Eagles’ trip to London. An ultrasound on Oct. 10 revealed Hurts, 28, had a superficial blood clot in his leg. Eagles medical staff and London-based doctors had concluded that activity and mobility were important, and determined Hurts could safely play against Jacksonville on Oct. 11.
Hurts was hospitalized late at night in London following the game and did not return to his hotel until 3 a.m. local time. NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said Hurts slept roughly seven to eight hours once he got back. On Monday, the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, released a statement confirming that further testing led to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary embolisms, after the clot in his left calf traveled to his lungs.
Goodell defended the league’s medical process even while backing the review. “Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were incredibly good there. The protocols were followed.
Our process is to make sure that’s the case, and our chief medical officer has gone through that, so we’re comfortable that what we’ve seen in the protocols have happened,” Goodell said, referring to a review by NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills.
What It Means
The NFLPA’s statement made clear the union had not been told of any league review until the dispute became public. “The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts. In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received.
Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred. Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward,” the union said.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, pushed back on any suggestion that outside pressure could compromise a team physician’s judgment. “Any idea or any suggestion that a team physician is ever being influenced by a coach, a general manager, a team owner, it just doesn’t happen,” Sills said. “The notion that there are external factors or that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way, that’s nonsense.”
Hurts’ clot is considered provoked, stemming from being cleated in his calf, which carries a favorable prognosis with treatment, according to sources told ESPN‘s Adam Schefter. Goodell emphasized the focus on Hurts’ recovery. “The most important thing here is Jalen’s health, ultimately, and the future of him.
He’s a wonderful young man: not just a great player, but he’s someone we all care deeply about. I’m more worried about his health, ultimately, but the protocols were followed,” Goodell said.
Context
Under the collective bargaining agreement, the review will run through the joint Accountability and Care Committee shared by the NFL and NFLPA. Under the CBA, two or more neutral physicians or other subject-matter experts will be selected within 60 days, who will issue a written report with recommendations on what steps should be taken to address any issues.
What’s Next
Hurts is on injured reserve and expected to miss the remainder of the season. The Accountability and Care Committee will conduct the review; no timeline has been set for when findings will be released.
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