Eagles Place Jalen Hurts on Injured Reserve With Superficial Blood Clot

The Philadelphia Eagles placed quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve Saturday after a superficial blood clot in his calf showed movement on a follow-up ultrasound, prompting the team to sideline him indefinitely. Head coach Nick Sirianni said Hurts' health remains the priority as doctors determine the appropriate treatment course. The move comes hours after NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported the Eagles did not plan to place Hurts on IR, marking a swift reversal after internal consultations with medical experts.

Hurts originally suffered the calf injury on Oct. 4 against the Los Angeles Rams when he was cleated during the game. An ultrasound before the Jacksonville matchup cleared him to play, but a recommended follow-up exam on Wednesday revealed movement in the clot, leading to his withdrawal from Sunday's game against Carolina. ESPN's Ian Rapoport reported the Eagles made the IR decision after consulting with doctors and other specialists.

Third-year quarterback Tanner McKee will start in Hurts' absence. Philadelphia (2-3) enters its Week 6 contest against the Panthers on a three-game losing streak and must navigate the roster constraint without its franchise quarterback. Hurts is required to miss at least four games, making his earliest possible return Nov. 22 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, though no specific timeline has been established for his return.