Former NFL team doctor addresses Jalen Hurts' blood clot as QB's season hinges on one key word

Key Points:

• Jalen Hurts, quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, was ruled out for Sunday's game due to a blood clot initially described as "superficial," but a follow-up ultrasound showed "movement" in the clot, raising concerns about its severity.
• Dr. David Chao, a former Chargers team doctor, emphasized that the term "movement" is critical, as it could indicate the clot has become a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which would require a much longer recovery and potentially end Hurts' season.
• A deep vein thrombosis can lead to serious complications like a pulmonary embolism, which necessitates strong anticoagulant treatment that would prevent Hurts from playing due to bleeding risks, especially the danger of a brain bleed.
• The blood clot was first detected after the Eagles flew to London, where it was deemed superficial and Hurts played, but the subsequent flight back to Philadelphia and new ultrasound findings raised questions about whether travel worsened his condition.
• Dr. Chao noted that proper preventive measures during flights, such as encouraging movement, compression stockings, or blood thinners, are essential for managing superficial clots; failure to do so could exacerbate the clot and complicate recovery.