Quick Answer: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve Saturday evening, October 17, 2026, because of a superficial blood clot in his calf. The move sidelines the 28-year-old for at least four games — the earliest he can return is Week 11 — reversing the team’s earlier stance that injured reserve was not even under consideration.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ turbulent season took another sharp turn on Saturday, when the Jalen Hurts injury forced the team’s hand: the Eagles officially placed their star quarterback on injured reserve because of a superficial blood clot in his calf — just hours after reports insisted the move was not even being discussed.
Key Takeaways
- The Eagles placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve Saturday with a superficial blood clot in his calf; he will miss at least four games.
- The decision reverses Saturday morning reports that IR was “not even discussed” — the team changed course after consulting numerous doctors and experts.
- Hurts is eligible to return in Week 11 against the Steelers, after the Eagles’ Week 10 bye, but no firm timetable has been set.
- Tanner McKee will start at quarterback Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
- The clot was discovered October 10 in London; a follow-up scan Wednesday night showed movement, prompting the team to shut him down.
- Philadelphia is 2-3 after three straight losses, with injuries piling up across the roster.
Eagles reverse course within hours on Jalen Hurts
Saturday morning brought reassurance. Citing ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, multiple outlets reported that the Eagles had “not even discussed” placing Hurts on injured reserve, despite the quarterback being out indefinitely with the calf blood clot. Keeping him on the active roster would have preserved the possibility of a quicker return.
By Saturday afternoon, that plan was gone. The Eagles announced that Hurts had been placed on injured reserve, with Schefter reporting that the decision followed consultations with numerous doctors and medical experts that continued into Saturday. The team also signed running back Jaydon Blue from the practice squad to the active roster and elevated linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby and safety Cole Wisniewski for Sunday’s game.
How the Jalen Hurts injury happened
The Eagles laid out the timeline in a detailed statement Thursday. Hurts was cleated during the October 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and first visited the training room on October 8 for calf treatment. After the team flew to London, a precautionary ultrasound on October 10 revealed a superficial blood clot; team doctors and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded he could safely play.
Hurts played without limitation against the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown in a 19-17 loss. But a mandatory follow-up ultrasound Wednesday night showed movement in the small clot. The Eagles ruled him out for Sunday’s game against Carolina while determining the right course of treatment, saying his “health and safety are our highest priority” and noting they had been in communication with the league office throughout.
Players cannot compete while taking blood thinners, the standard treatment for such clots, according to NBC Sports. Doctors not involved in Hurts’ care have suggested he could miss up to six weeks, though the Eagles have given no timetable of their own.
What injured reserve means for Hurts and the Eagles
An injured reserve designation requires a player to miss a minimum of four games. For the Eagles QB, that means sitting out Sunday’s home game against the Panthers, a Monday night meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, road trips to Washington and the New York Giants, and then the Week 10 bye. The earliest he can return to game action is Week 11, when the Eagles host the Pittsburgh Steelers — but that is an eligibility date, not a recovery forecast.
Third-year quarterback Tanner McKee will make his third career start Sunday against Carolina. Rookie Cole Payton has been promoted to backup, and Joe Milton — signed off the Cowboys’ practice squad on Friday — is the third quarterback. Under NFL rules, Milton must remain on the active roster for three weeks.
A season coming apart in Philadelphia
The Hurts injury is the latest blow in a chaotic stretch for a franchise that is 2-3 and riding a three-game losing streak. Star tackle Lane Johnson abruptly retired earlier this month, Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens was traded, and running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) will miss his second straight game Sunday, though a return next week is considered realistic. Receiver DeVonta Smith is also dealing with a hamstring issue.
Through five games, Hurts had completed 89 of 154 passes (57.8 percent) for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions, adding 107 rushing yards and a score. His passer rating stands at 84.7. “It was a very unique experience, to say the least,” Hurts said Wednesday of the ordeal. “I don’t want to get into the details of kind of leading up to the game and whatnot, but got nicked up in the Rams game.”
FAQs
Why did the Eagles place Jalen Hurts on injured reserve?
The Eagles placed Jalen Hurts on injured reserve because of a superficial blood clot in his calf. After a follow-up ultrasound showed movement in the clot, the team consulted numerous doctors and experts on Saturday before deciding the IR designation — which requires missing at least four games — was the right course.
When will Jalen Hurts return from injured reserve?
The earliest Jalen Hurts can return is Week 11, when the Eagles host the Pittsburgh Steelers following their Week 10 bye. The team has not announced a recovery timetable, and he remains out indefinitely. Players taking blood thinners typically miss more than a month, according to NBC Sports.
Who is the quarterback for the Eagles now?
Tanner McKee will start for the Eagles on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, his third career start. The Eagles quarterbacks are now McKee, rookie Cole Payton as the backup, and Joe Milton — signed from the Cowboys’ practice squad — as the third quarterback.
Is Jalen Hurts injured?
Yes. Jalen Hurts is sidelined with a superficial blood clot in his calf, discovered during a precautionary ultrasound in London on October 10. A follow-up scan on Wednesday night showed movement in the clot, and the Eagles placed him on injured reserve on Saturday.
What happened to Jalen Hurts?
Hurts was cleated in the calf during the Eagles’ October 4 game against the Rams. He was cleared to play against Jacksonville after the initial diagnosis, but a follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday night showed the clot had moved, leading the team to rule him out and later place him on injured reserve.
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Sources: Philadelphia Eagles (official team announcement); ESPN; NBC Sports; USA Today. This is a developing story — details may change as the team releases further updates. Follow Emadan News for the latest Jalen Hurts news.
