Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-18**Lead**
The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly prepared to activate quarterback Jalen Hurts for the remainder of the 2026 season — but only under one strict condition: that he receives full medical clearance from independent specialists regarding a blood clot issue that has kept him out of action. According to a report from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the franchise has not ruled out a return this year, but the decision hinges entirely on the health and safety of the 28-year-old signal-caller.
**Contexto**
Hurts was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his lower right leg earlier this month, a condition that can be life-threatening if a clot dislodges and travels to the lungs. The Eagles placed him on the non-football injury list on October 10, 2026, and he has missed the team’s last two games — a narrow win over the Cleveland Browns and a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett has started in his absence, completing 58 percent of his passes for 412 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
The condition was discovered during a routine medical checkup after Hurts reported persistent calf soreness. Team doctors immediately prescribed blood-thinning medication and ordered a period of rest. The standard protocol for athletes with DVT involves a minimum of three to six months of anticoagulant therapy, during which contact sports are strictly prohibited due to the risk of internal bleeding. However, recent advances in sports medicine have allowed some players to return sooner if the clot is fully dissolved and no underlying anatomical or genetic clotting disorder is found.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman declined to comment on the timeline during a press conference on Monday, but sources close to the organization told Rapoport that the front office is “optimistic but cautious.” The team has not placed Hurts on injured reserve, a move that would end his season, leaving the door open for a potential return in December or even the playoffs.
**Analise**
The condition for Hurts’s return is not merely a matter of team doctors signing off. According to the report, the Eagles are insisting on a second opinion from a hematologist unaffiliated with the organization, as well as a series of imaging tests — including a venogram and a D-dimer blood test — to confirm that the clot has completely resolved. This is a standard but rigorous process. The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement allows teams to require independent medical evaluations before clearing a player with a serious condition, and the Eagles are expected to follow that protocol to the letter.
Why does this matter? Because Hurts is not just any quarterback. He is the centerpiece of a franchise that has reached the Super Bowl twice in the past four seasons, winning once. His dual-threat ability — 3,800 passing yards and 650 rushing yards in 2025 — makes him one of the most valuable players in the league. Without him, the Eagles’ offense has looked disjointed. Pickett is a capable backup, but he lacks Hurts’s improvisational skill and deep-ball accuracy. The team currently sits at 5-3, tied for first in the NFC East, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
If Hurts returns, the Eagles would instantly become a Super Bowl favorite. If he does not, the front office will have to decide whether to make a trade for a veteran quarterback before the November 3 deadline — a move that could mortgage the team’s future. The blood clot issue also raises longer-term questions about Hurts’s durability and whether the Eagles should consider drafting a quarterback in 2027.
**Fontes**
This report is based on information originally published by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, citing unnamed sources within the Philadelphia Eagles organization. Additional context regarding deep vein thrombosis protocols in professional athletes was drawn from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the NFL’s official medical guidelines. No direct statements from Jalen Hurts, his representatives, or the Eagles’ medical staff were available at the time of writing.