NFL Welcomes NFLPA Inquiry Into Jalen Hurts Medical Care

The NFL will face scrutiny over the medical care provided to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after the players' union called for an investigation into blood clots that could end his season. Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed the inquiry Wednesday in Manhattan, following an earlier statement that a review would not be necessary.

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) said the league had previously informed the union that it did not intend to investigate Hurts' treatment. The union called for a full examination of the circumstances before any conclusions are reached about how his medical care was handled.

The NFL's chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, outlined the treatment Hurts received before playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, England, on Oct. 4. Sills also presented a timeline that contradicted earlier reports suggesting Hurts had gone 36 hours without sleep before kickoff.

Speaking at the conclusion of the league's fall meeting, Goodell said the NFL supported the union's request.

"Well, we welcome that," Goodell said as the fall league meeting in Manhattan ended. "That’s part of our process. That’s fine."

Goodell said the league's medical leadership had already reviewed the protocols followed in Hurts' case. He maintained that the union had the right to pursue a separate investigation under the established process.

"Our chief medical officer has been through the protocols that were followed," Goodell said Wednesday. "So we welcome that (investigation). If that’s what they do, that’s their right."

The NFLPA said it had not been informed of any league investigation into the quarterback's medical treatment and emphasized the need to establish the facts. The union said the findings should help ensure players receive appropriate medical care and protection in the future.

"The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts," the statement read. "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."

Sills defended the independence of team physicians, rejecting suggestions that coaching staff or team executives could influence their medical decisions. His comments addressed concerns about whether outside pressure could affect decisions involving player safety.

“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.

Sills also rejected claims that external considerations could lead doctors to expose players to unnecessary danger.

“The notion that there are external factors or that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way – that’s nonsense,” Sills said.

Hurts was initially diagnosed with a superficial blood clot, a condition announced Thursday, Oct. 15, alongside confirmation that he would miss the upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers. On Monday, the Eagles and a representative for Hurts issued a joint statement explaining that the condition had progressed to deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), with multiple clots also found in his lungs.

Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, the investigation will proceed through the joint Accountability and Care Committee shared by the league and the NFLPA. Within 60 days after an investigation begins, at least two neutral physicians or other subject-matter experts must be selected to examine the case and prepare a written report.

The agreement requires the report to include recommendations for addressing and correcting any identified problems, with the parties responsible for acting on those recommendations.