Eagles Under Intensified Scrutiny As New Details On QB's Medical Crisis Emerge

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Eagles are facing intensified scrutiny from around the sports world this week as new details continue to emerge surrounding the blood clots discovered in the lungs of Jalen Hurts.

Hurts initially was cut by a cleat during the game against Los Angeles on Oct. 4. A blood clot was discovered days later.

According to the team's announcements and a series of reports, including from NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Hurts stayed in the hospital until 4 a.m. the night before the London game. Later reports clarified that Hurts did get some scattered sleep the night before, and in the stadium before the game.

See previous coverage: Jalen Hurts Has Multiple Blood Clots In His Lungs

The team cleared Hurts to play, and he went on to complete 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards in a heartbreaking loss against Jacksonville.

"This is the craziest thing I've ever heard," radio host and analyst Nick Kostos said. "Are they crazy? How committed is Jalen Hurts to football? That he would die on the field? At no point does someone step in and say you can't play?"

The Birds did not announce the blood clot until several days later, after they had flown back to Philadelphia. Head coach Nick Sirianni got into a heated exchange with reporters Monday over why Hurts was allowed on the plane, as blood clots are worsened by flying.

"Again, I'm not a medical expert, same deal there, we get medical information from our guys, and we always put the player's health first and foremost in every situation," Sirianni told reporters.

When reporters repeated the question several more times about why Hurts was permitted to fly, Sirianni repeated his statement. And the team did not make anyone else available to answer medical questions.

Many were stunned that the Eagles put it on Sirianni to speak to the media, as the controversial decisions to play Hurts with the blood clot and then to put him on a transatlantic flight were not made by him.

"The owner, the general manager, and whoever represents the medical staff ... that's the three people that should be (answering questions)," Marcus Spears said on ESPN.

Others suggested the Eagles could face significant legal liability for how they've handled the situation.

"Eagles are scared," Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe said on the Nightcap Show. "Cause you might have cost this kid, could have cost him his life and you might have cost him his damn career."

Sharpe added that Hurts could sue the Eagles.

The Birds announced the blood clot in the middle of the week last week, noting that Hurts would miss the game against Carolina.

Now, with the discovery that the blood clots spread to the lungs, Hurts is out for the season. He is now on a course of blood thinners, and the team says his prognosis is good. It is not believed he will suffer any long term negative effects.

The Birds have lost four straight games and have fallen to 2-4.