NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the league welcomes an investigation into the Philadelphia Eagles’ handling of Jalen Hurts’ blood clots, after the players’ union called for one.
Goodell spoke at his news conference at the end of the NFL’s annual fall meeting in New York on Wednesday (US time). He said the league’s chief medical officer, Dr Allen Sills, had gone through the steps that were followed, and that the NFL Players Association had a right to call for a review, ESPN reported.
“Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were incredibly good there,” Goodell said. “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.”
Union wants answers
The NFLPA issued its statement on Tuesday night (US time), ProFootballTalk reported. ESPN said the call was prompted by Sills’ comments and by reports that the league would not punish the Eagles over the process that led to Hurts being cleared to play in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“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 union said. “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.”
Read more: Eagles Won’t Be Punished by NFL Over Jalen Hurts’ Blood Clot
Sills had strongly defended the Eagles’ medical staff on Tuesday. “The notion that there’s external factors that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way – that’s nonsense,” he said.
How it unfolded
An ultrasound in London on 10 October found a superficial blood clot in Hurts’ leg. The Eagles said their medical staff and London-based doctors “concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play” against the Jaguars.
Read more: Jalen Hurts Expected to Miss Rest of Season With Blood Clots
On Monday (US time), the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, said further testing and monitoring had led to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. The 28-year-old is on injured reserve and is expected to miss the rest of the season, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Goodell also played down the role international travel might have played. “The most important thing here is Jalen’s health, ultimately, and the future of him,” he said. “He’s a wonderful young man: not just a great player, but he’s someone we all care deeply about. I’m more worried about his health, ultimately, but the protocols were followed.”
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