The NFL Players Association is calling on the NFL to conduct a “full investigation” into the Eagles over the medical care the organization provided to quarterback Jalen Hurts, hours after the league held a press conference at its offices in Midtown Manhattan in which the chief medical officer called out “nonsense” surrounding the entire saga.
Earlier Tuesday, reports indicated the NFL was not punishing the Eagles for how it handled the process of clearing Hurts to play Week 5 against the Jaguars in London. He was originally diagnosed with a superficial blood clot before it was modified to deep vein thrombosis in his left leg and bilateral pulmonary emboli.
“The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts. In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received,” the players association said in a statement. “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 Eagles’ handling of the situation has drawn plenty of questions since it was revealed that Hurts will miss the remainder of the season and whether Philadelphia allowed Hurts to play in London while injured.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing player health and safety, lambasted the speculation as “considerable and uninformed” and “unfounded.”
Chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills called the idea that external factors played into doctors’ decision to allow Hurts to play “nonsense.”
“Our first obligation as team physicians is always to the patient,” Sills said. “Any idea that a team physician is ever being influenced by a coach, a general manager or an owner, it just doesn’t happen.
“The notion that there’s external factors that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way, that’s nonsense.”
