Eagles QB Jalen Hurts to remain sidelined with blood clots in lungs: What fans should know

Hurts faces a longer absence

Philadelphia announced Monday that Hurts will miss more games this season because of blood clots in his lungs. The team and his agent said he is taking blood-thinning medication and cannot participate in contact activities, including football.

How lung clots develop

Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a clot that forms in deep veins, most often in the legs. A pulmonary embolism, or PE, can occur when part of a DVT clot breaks away and travels to the lungs; the CDC says this can be life-threatening.

The article describes Hurts’ diagnosis as bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning clots are present in both his right and left lungs. This is distinct from a superficial clot, which affects veins closer to the skin’s surface.

Risk factors and treatment

Risk factors for DVT and PE include older age, recent hospitalization or surgery, extended limited mobility, family history and pregnancy. The CDC also says long-distance air travel may raise a person’s overall risk.

JAMA lists injury or trauma, prolonged travel or immobility, recent surgery and a prior IV in the vein among risk factors for superficial clots. Small superficial clots may be treated with topical painkillers, warm compresses or compression stockings; more extensive cases may require blood thinners for months or longer, depending on risk factors.