As the Philadelphia Eagles prepared to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Jalen Hurts was still in the locker room, riding an exercise bike while his teammates went through their pregame routine. He missed the national anthem before eventually taking the field. The Eagles were already working around changes at several offensive positions, with absences and lineup adjustments affecting their options along the offensive line and among their skill players.

Hurts completed 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, but Philadelphia’s afternoon ended in a 19–17 defeat. The Eagles had briefly moved ahead through Jake Elliott’s field goal with eight seconds left, only for Jacksonville to answer with Ameer Abdullah’s kickoff return and Cam Little’s 57-yard game-winner. Hurts had finished the game, but his unusual pregame routine has since taken on a different significance with Philadelphia’s next update. The Philadelphia Eagles shared a lengthy message while describing the quarterback’s situation.

“On Thursday, October 8th, Jalen visited the training room after practice requesting treatment for his calf. He informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4th. This was his first treatment session for the calf injury following the game, after having practiced in full both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Jalen received treatment, practiced in full, and was added to the practice report,” the team’s statement read on X.

“Out of an abundance of caution, an ultrasound was performed on Saturday following the team’s flight to London and walkthrough. The ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot. Our medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play. Doctors recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia.”

Hurts had completed 12 of 27 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in the Eagles’ 24–20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on October 4. He subsequently practised in full on Wednesday and Thursday before requesting calf treatment on October 8. The timing is significant: the team said that this was his first treatment session for the injury since the Rams game.

The Eagles’ first ultrasound, conducted after the team arrived in London on October 10, revealed the superficial blood clot. However, doctors in London cleared Hurts to play against Jacksonville and recommended a follow-up scan within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia. He had no injury designation for the Jaguars matchup and completed the game without limitation, according to the team.

Hurts offered little detail when asked about the injury after the London game, describing the circumstances as unusual.

“It was a very unique experience, to say the least. I don’t want to get into the details of kind of leading up to the game and whatnot, but got nicked up in the Rams game,” Hurts said.

The quarterback also indicated that his delayed arrival on the field before kickoff and his use of a stationary bike between series were related to the calf issue. Those details add context to his London routine, although the Eagles have not publicly established that the cleat injury caused the blood clot.

The situation changed after Hurts returned to Philadelphia. He received treatment on Monday and Tuesday, then practised in full on Wednesday. But a follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday night revealed movement in the clot, prompting the Eagles to rule him out of Sunday’s Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers.

“Jalen played without limitation in the game Sunday, received treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and practiced in full on Wednesday, as reflected in the practice report. Throughout our time in London and this week, we have remained in communication with the league office regarding the matter,” the Eagles said.

The team added that Hurts would miss Sunday’s game while it determined the appropriate course of treatment, reiterating that his health and safety were its highest priority. It has not announced a return date, leaving his availability beyond Week 6 uncertain.

Hurts has thrown for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions through five games this season. His absence leaves Philadelphia without the quarterback who has led the franchise to two Super Bowl appearances and earned Super Bowl MVP honours after the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Tanner McKee is expected to start against Carolina in Hurts’ place. A sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stanford, McKee has appeared in six regular-season games and started two, with Philadelphia going 1–1 in those outings. He has completed 54 of 88 career passes (61.4%) for 597 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Sunday’s matchup is expected to be his third NFL start. Rookie Cole Payton is expected to serve as his backup.