The Eagles will be without star quarterback Jalen Hurts for an extended period of time. It's unclear just what impact that will have on Philadelphia's postseason hopes.
Hurts was diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf on Wednesday. On Sunday, the Eagles included him on their injured reserve list. The designation will see him miss multiple games — a disheartening proposition for a side that has dropped three of its first five games to start the year.
With that, here's what you need to know about Hurts' condition, as well as how it could impact Philadelphia's short-term and long-term future.
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The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve on Saturday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The move came "after consultations with numerous doctors and experts", per Schefter. Hurts will miss a minimum four games as a result of his diagnosis.
Per Schefter, Hurts is out indefinitely as he attempts to remedy his malady. His diagnosis is a serious one; blood clots can sideline athletes for lengthy periods of time. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder in Feb. 2025. He went on to miss the rest of the season. Damian Lillard faced the same condition in his calf in March 2025. He missed 15 games, returning to the floor in April that year.
All of that is to say different bodies react differently to clotting in the bloodstream. Hurts' clot is located in his calf, the same as Lillard. It's unclear whether that will aid him in his recovery.
IYER: Why Jalen Hurts' blood clot won't doom 2-3 Eagles' NFC playoff chances
Either way, Hurts' absence is likely to have major repercussions on Philadelphia's prospects in 2026. For all of his struggles, Hurts remains arguably the Eagles most important player. With him on the mend, Nick Sirianni's side is likely to turn to Tanner McKee with a fairly accomplished arm — at least as far as strength is concerned. Mckee, 26, has some positive attributes. He completed 30-of-45 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns across two appearances for Philadelphia in 2024.
Nevertheless, it's fanciful to expect the former sixth-rounder to eclipse Hurts' outings — especially in his first few starts. The Eagles' offense has been battered by injuries, with DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley all missing time. Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion could seek to put some new looks into Philadelphia's playbook to prioritize his skillset. Still, the Eagles' present offensive environment is hardly ideal for a Pro Bowl-caliber passer at the moment, let alone a career backup.
Sirianni appears to have secured enough goodwill to effectively cement himself on Philadelphia's sideline for the foreseeable future. And while he has undoubtedly made some mistakes — most of which he has taken accountability for — his reputation as one of the sport's finest minds remains comfortably intact.
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The Eagles' season isn't over, either. Philadelphia's 2-3 record doesn't inspire much confidence at first glance. But neither the Commanders, Cowboys nor Giants are sure things to emerge out of the NFC East.
All is not lost for the Eagles, even if Hurts faces a lengthy absence. There's still a route back to relevancy — and playoff contention, depending on the way the next few weeks shake out. Things are far from ideal for the Birds. But if they can hold firm until reinforcements like Smith and Barkley are back to their best, the Eagles might be able to keep their head above water.
