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The NFL is annoyed and angry with the Eagles for a lack of transparency in their public statements regarding the treatment of quarterback Jalen Hurts for blood clots in his leg and lungs, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“They’re furious,” one source, who is well-connected to the NFL offices, said.
The NFL reportedly had no issues with the timeline and treatment of Hurts — but they weren’t happy that the Eagles didn’t leave the explanation to a medical professional, several NFL sources told the outlet.
That has left them open for criticism from fans and media outlets, especially after inaccurate reports leaked out that Hurts did not sleep before the Jaguars game in London after the clot was initially discovered.
The league reportedly thought the Eagles issued incomplete statements to the public when the quarterback landed on IR.
Hurts is expected to be sidelined for at least the remainder of this season while being treated with blood thinners for blood clots in his lungs.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the media on Oct. 19 when the news broke that Hurts would miss extended time due to blood clots — but relevant questions went unanswered.
General Manager Howie Roseman hasn’t addressed the situation and the Eagles have not made their team doctors or medical staff available.
The Eagles said in a statement on Oct. 15 that Hurts first reported issues with his calf on Oct. 8 after he was cleated during Philadelphia’s Week 4 loss to the Rams.
A “superficial blood clot” in his left calf was discovered during an evaluation before the Eagles’ loss to the Jaguars in London — and the team said medical staff and doctors determined that “Jalen could safely play” against Jacksonville.
Hurts was later diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary embolism after comprehensive medical evaluations by physician experts, the Eagles and Hurts’ agent Nicole Lynn said on Oct. 19.
The NFL and NFLPA have begun discussions on a joint review of the medical care given to the Eagles QB, the league and the union told Front Office Sports. The review could take up to 120 days under the CBA, and a formal investigation has yet to launch.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday at the owners’ meetings in New York that the league welcomes an investigation into the matter.
“Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were incredibly good there,” Goodell said. “The protocols were followed. Our process is to make sure that’s the case, and our chief medical officer has gone through that, so we’re comfortable that what we’ve seen in the protocols have happened.”
Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, defended the Eagles’ medical staff while taking questions at the owners’ meetings.
“The notion that there’s external factors that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way — that’s nonsense,” Sills said.
The NFL said officials were in touch with team doctors and athletic trainers, as well as the Cleveland Clinic in London.
The Eagles and Cowboys, both 2-4, will meet on “Monday Night Football” for an NFC East showdown to complete Week 7. Tanner McKee has taken over as the Eagles starting quarterback in Hurts’ absence.