Eagles news: Jalen Hurts likely out for the season, blood clots found in lungs; was told not to sleep before London game

How could the Eagles let Jalen Hurts play?

That's the immediate reaction from across the league to the news Hurts will likely miss the rest of the season after blood clots were found in his lungs.

The initial diagnosis of a superficial blood clot in his calf was made in London ahead of the Eagles' Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported Hurts was told by doctors not to sleep prior to the game as a precaution.

Jalen Hurts spent most of the night before the Jaguars game in Week 4 at a London hospital because of the blood clot that was initially found in his calf.

(Tests later revealed clots in his lung that he will receive treatment for, likely taking him out for the season. He is expected to make a full recovery, per the Eagles and his agent Nicole Lynn.)

Hurts didn’t sleep that entire night, per doctor’s orders. He still played the next day after little sleep because of travel and concerns over his medical condition.

Once again, the Eagles defense was forced to be on the field longer than it should due to an Eagles offense that fails to sustain drives. The defense played 79 snaps on Sunday, the fifth time in six games the unit was on the field for 70 or more plays.

It’s not hard to figure out why the fourth-quarter defense hasn’t been consistent enough. Sure, there have been a few of what Cooper DeJean calls “miscommunications,” like the busted coverage that led to Tommy Tremble’s game-sealing touchdown, but there’s also the attrition factor at play, too.

“Not getting sustained drives there obviously cost us and puts the defense in a tough spot,” Nick Sirianni said on Sunday.

The Washington Commanders are touchdown underdogs Monday night in San Francisco, and if they lose, the NFC East will become the first division since the AFL-NFL merger to have all of its teams play in consecutive weeks without winning, according to the Associated Press.

Yeah, the division appears to be that bad this season.

The Giants lead at 3-2-1 and the Eagles and Cowboys — who play each other next Monday in Philadelphia — are behind them at 2-4 with the Commanders in the basement at 1-3-1 heading into Monday night.

With Jalen Hurts on injured reserve as he deals with a blood clot in his calf, the soonest he could be back with the Eagles would be Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There was some confusion over the weekend over his status. Saturday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Hurts wasn't expected to be placed on injured reserve, leaving open the possibility of him returning sooner. That changed a few hours later, with the duo reporting the move by the Eagles.

So what changed?

Former Eagles defender turned NFL analyst Brandon Graham thinks Nick Sirianni's future in Philly could be in jeopardy if the Birds head coach isn't able to turn things around.

"I love Nick, but I can just see the writing on the wall if things don't go good this year," Graham said on PHLY's postgame show Sunday. "We all know down years happen, but the wave now is get these coordinators as head coaches."

"And with Nick being relieved of his duties of calling plays," it leaves him vulnerable to being replaced by an up-and-coming offensive coordinator, Graham added.

If you want a sliver of good news, the Eagles scored more points than the Cowboys did Sunday night.

Dallas lost to the Green Bay Packers 23-13 at Lambeau Field, and now travel to South Philly to face the Eagles in Week 7 in primetime on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

It's a matchup that's lost a bit of luster. Both teams enter the game with a 2-4 record, and the high-powered Dallas offense has sputtered through the season. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have only managed more than 20 points twice all season, and their only touchdown Sunday came with just 44 seconds on the clock and the game out of reach.

The NFL was considering flexing the Eagles (2-4) out of primetime before Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve due to a blood clot in his leg.

Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers certainly won't help the Birds' case.

As it stands now, the two-win Eagles are set to face the one-win Washington Commanders (1-3-1) in Week 8 on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Even with Hurts, the Eagles weren't exactly must-see TV on offense, and that didn't change much with Tanner McKee under center.

Jordan Mailata stood in the center of the locker room, his game jersey still soaked and eye black dripping down his face, and loudly shouted toward reporters that he was ready for questions.

He hadn’t even stopped at his locker yet. Clearly he was eager to get his message out.

Shortly after the Eagles’ 25-14 loss to the Panthers — their fourth loss in a row — the All-Pro tackle held court in the quiet dressing room, fielding questions for nearly 30 minutes about what, exactly, is going wrong with the 2026 Eagles.

Despite four-straight losses, the Eagles have as much of a shot as anyone to win the NFC East.

The New York Giants remain in first place in the NFL East, despite losing to the New Orleans Saints Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers Sunday night, dropping them back into the tie with the Eagles.