Hey ,
I think the recent news about Jalen Hurts requires a broader conversation about athlete health and wellness. I’m sure you’ve heard about it already, but Jalen can’t play football for the rest of the season due to blood clots in his lungs and in his calf. Jalen is currently stable and his agent, Nicole Lynn reported this morning that she expects him to have a full-recovery with no long-term effects. But beyond the actual diagnosis, the hard part was also what we’re learning about the conditions he played in during the recent London game. He apparently found out about the clot before kickoff and was at the hospital until the early hours of game day, yet was still committed to playing.
Some reports said he was medically advised not to sleep due to the risk of the blood clot and had been awake for 36 hours, but his agent has clarified that he did sleep and felt rested enough to play. Either way, it’s incredibly hard to sit with the fact that things could have gone severely wrong.
If you’re wondering what his diagnosis means medically, doctor’s are explaining that Jalen is suffering from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his leg and pulmonary emboli, which are clots that traveled to his lungs. Those can be dangerous because they block blood flow and strain the heart, which is why “clinically stable” in the team’s update matters. He’ll be on blood thinners for treatment, which will keep new clots from forming while his body clears the existing ones. And a hard hit while on them could cause fatal bleeding, which is why he can’t take part in any contact activities for now. The overall outlook on his health seems strong, but it’s still very concerning and unsettling to me.
As someone who’s always loved sports beyond the game itself, I can admire Jalen’s love and passion for it and how much he’ll do for his team, but it should never be at the expense of his health.
The NFL and the medical team involved who cleared him need to be held accountable.
But between the pile of injuries across the league and now Jalen's diagnosis, this season has been a constant reminder of how fragile life can be, and how the players give so much of themselves on the field.
I’m sharing this because Jalen has always deserved all of the love, patience, and support he needs, but especially now. Moments like this need to push the NFL to treat player safety and wellness as the main priority, not an afterthought.
Sending prayers for a strong recovery for QB1. I hope this time away from the game gives him the space to heal, both from the physical impact and from the mental toll this has taken on his overall wellbeing.
I didn’t realize all of those details until hearing your article. So concerning that they cleared. Praying for Jalen.
Eagles need to be investigated for this.