Michael Robinson Apologizes After Questioning Jalen Hurts Injury

Questions about the judgment of NFL Network analyst Michael Robinson intensified after Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs, contradicting Robinson's suggestion that the quarterback was exaggerating an injury to avoid responsibility for his team's struggles. Robinson apologized Monday night, addressing his comments about Hurts' health and commitment to Philadelphia.

According to the account published by Fox News, Robinson made the remarks Thursday on NFL Network, suggesting Hurts had removed himself from the lineup to avoid blame for the Eagles' losses. The quarterback's subsequent medical findings revealed a more serious condition than Robinson had suggested.

Robinson initially questioned Hurts' motives, implying that injuries affecting multiple Philadelphia players could have influenced the quarterback's decision to sit out. His comments came amid a series of medical developments following Hurts' injury against the Los Angeles Rams on October 4.

Explaining his interpretation of the quarterback's decision, Robinson said:

"He's pulling himself out, so this doesn't look like it's on me," Robinson said.

Six days after the Rams game, an ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot, according to the source. Hurts nevertheless played against the Jacksonville Jaguars the following day in London, despite reported medical concerns about the risks associated with sleeping while having a blood clot.

On October 15, the Eagles announced that Hurts would not play against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Robinson questioned the quarterback's response to the injuries affecting the roster during his television appearance.

Referring to the situation within the Eagles organization, Robinson said:

"If I'm Jalen Hurts or anybody in the Jalen Hurts' camp, I'm saying 'if everybody is hurt, then I'm hurt, too'," he said.

Robinson also questioned the seriousness of the condition, distinguishing between a superficial clot and what he described as a more serious blood clot.

He added:

"I would advise all of our viewers to go Google 'superficial blood clot' as opposed to a real blood clot."

Subsequent medical findings showed that Hurts had blood clots in his lungs. According to Fox News, the quarterback was then expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season, making the earlier speculation about his motives particularly contentious.

Robinson addressed the backlash in an apology issued Monday night, acknowledging that he had speculated about a player's medical condition without a factual basis.

He said:

"I want to sincerely apologize to Jalen Hurts, his family, the Philadelphia Eagles organization and fan base for my comments last Thursday. They were unfounded and I never should've speculated on a health issue of a player nor his commitment to this team."

The controversy also renewed attention to previous high-profile predictions by sports commentators that proved inaccurate. Fox News cited former ESPN analyst Max Kellerman's 2016 assessment of Tom Brady as one example.

Kellerman had predicted that Brady would soon decline sharply, saying the quarterback would "fall off a cliff," according to the source. Brady subsequently won three more Super Bowls, illustrating the difference between an incorrect performance prediction and speculation that questions an athlete's character.

Robinson's apology came as Hurts faced an extended absence following the discovery of blood clots in his lungs. The Eagles quarterback had already been ruled out of the team's game against the Panthers, and his condition was expected to sideline him for the rest of the season.