NFL Launches Investigation Into Eagles Over Handling Of Jalen Hurts' Blood Clots

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The National Football League has launched an ethics investigation into the Philadelphia Eagles over their handling of the Jalen Hurts medical crisis, days after Commissioner Roger Goodell claimed proper procedures had been followed by the Birds and that no investigation was planned.

It comes amid ongoing pressure from the NFL player's association, which has voiced the concerns of numerous former players, analysts, fans, and others around the league that the Eagles may not have adequately protected their star quarterback as he suffered serious, potentially life-threatening blood clots.

The player's association and the NFL issued a joint statement Sunday affirming the investigation.

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

Earlier last week Goodell dismissed the notion of an investigation being necessary, though he said it was "welcome."

"I think our protocols were incredibly good there,” Goodell said, according to the Associated Press. “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."

But the player's association said the NFL made no moves to launch an investigation last week.

“The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts," they said in a statement. "In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received. Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred. Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward.”

The full timeline of events leading up to Hurts' diagnosis and following the game in London earlier this month only became clear over the past week.

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 on Oct. 11. Later reports clarified that Hurts did get some scattered sleep the night before, and in the stadium before the game.

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.

Hurts then immediately boarded a transatlantic flight back to Philadelphia, drawing shock from many as flying makes blood clots worsen.

The Birds did not announce the blood clot until several days later, after they had flown back to Philadelphia. Hurts was announced as unavailable for the Oct. 18 game. Shortly thereafter, they revealed the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis, along with bilateral pulmonary emboli, with blood clots in his lungs.

The Eagles, for reasons unknown, did not make their medical staff, or general manger Howie Roseman, available to the press last Monday to answer the growing litany of questions surrounding their handling of the incident. Instead, they put head coach Nick Sirianni on the hot seat. Sirianni got into a heated exchange with reporters Monday over why Hurts was allowed on the plane, and as it was not his decision, he had no good answer.

"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," he told reporters.

The timeline for the NFL and player's association's investigation is not yet known.

The 2-4 Eagles will be without Hurts for the remainder of the season. It's not believed he will suffer long term effects from the blood clots.