NFL welcomes investigation into handling of Jalen

A day after the NFL Players Assn. called for a “full investigation” into the Philadelphia Eagles’ handling of quarterback Jalen Hurts’ medical care after he developed a blood clot, commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would have no drawback with the union initiating such a review.

“That’s part of our process. That’s fine,” Goodell said Wednesday at a news convention following the conclusion of the NFL’s annual fall conferences in New York. “We welcome that if that’s what they do; they have that right.”

The Eagles had been in London when an ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot in Hurts’ calf on Oct. 10. After reviewing the outcomes, the crew’s medical employees and London medical doctors cleared Hurts to play in the next day’s sport against the Jacksonville Jaguars under the assumption that it was important for him to stay energetic and cell.

Hurts performed in that sport without limitation, the crew said, and threw for 220 yards and a landing. He also flew back to the U.S. with the crew. A follow-up ultrasound later “revealed movement in the small blood clot,” the crew said in a assertion last Thursday, and Hurts was positioned on injured reserve two days later.

On Monday, the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, announced that the Super Bowl LIX MVP has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, which means a blood clot has traveled to his lungs. He will be unable to take part in soccer actions while he’s being handled with blood thinners, the assertion said, with a number of media retailers reporting that he’s out for the season.

Although they’ve been criticized by some for permitting Hurts to play in London and fly home, a number of media retailers reported Tuesday that the NFL won’t self-discipline the Eagles for how they dealt with Hurts’ medical issue. The league also issued a assertion saying that officers had been in contact with Eagles medical personnel and the Cleveland Clinic in London throughout Hurts’ treatment.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday at the league conferences, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills defended the Eagles’ employees, saying it could be “nonsense” to recommend “that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way.”

That evening, the NFLPA issued a assertion saying it was unaware of any investigation by the league into Hurts’ medical care.

“Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred,” the NFLPA said. “Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward.”

On Wednesday, it was Goodell’s flip to reassure the public that the right steps had been adopted.

“Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were incredibly good there,” Goodell said. “The most important thing here is Jalen’s health, ultimately, in the future. He’s a wonderful young man, and 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.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.