NFL Medical Chief Defends Jalen Hurts' London Clearance After 2 Lung Clots
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 21
NFL Medical Chief Defends Jalen Hurts' London Clearance After 2 Lung Clots
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 21
Summary
Allen Sills on Tuesday forcefully defended the Eagles' decision to let 28-year-old Jalen Hurts play in London after a superficial calf clot was found, even though Hurts later developed deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli.
Three trauma doctors cited in the report said football trauma and Hurts' roughly 7-hour flight home could plausibly worsen clot risk, questioning whether playing and traveling were medically prudent.
The NFLPA rejected the league's conclusion that the case was handled appropriately and called for a full investigation, a step commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would welcome.
The dispute revives scrutiny of NFL team-doctor independence and the league's player-safety credibility, especially because Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season.