Updated:
by
Mark A. Edelman, MD, DABVLM
Medically reviewed by Mark A. Edelman, MD, DABVLM
Update, October 20, 2026: The Eagles have confirmed that Jalen Hurts’ clot progressed to deep vein thrombosis and traveled to both lungs. Hurts is now on blood thinners and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
October 25 2026: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was ruled out of the October 18 game against the Carolina Panthers because of a blood clot in his leg, according to NBC Sports. The team announced on October 15, 2026, that a follow-up ultrasound showed "movement in the small blood clot" in his calf. Four days later, the Eagles confirmed the clot had reached his lungs.
For Eagles fans, the news stings. For everyone else, it carries a useful lesson. A blood clot labeled "superficial" still deserves close attention, and clots do not spare elite athletes.
Here is what the team has shared about Hurts' situation, what a superficial blood clot is, and which leg symptoms deserve a closer look.
According to the Eagles' statement, reported by NBC Sports, Hurts told the medical staff on October 8 that he had been cleated in the calf during the October 4 game against the Rams. He practiced in full that week. After the team flew to London, an ultrasound found a superficial blood clot. Team doctors and physicians in London concluded that activity and mobility were important and that he could safely play, and he played against the Jaguars without limitation.
A follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday night showed the clot had moved. The Eagles ruled him out of the Carolina game the next day and placed him on injured reserve on October 16.
On October 19, 2026, the Eagles and Hurts' agent, Nicole Lynn, released a statement confirming the clot had progressed. Hurts has deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots in both lungs, known as bilateral pulmonary emboli (PE), according to CNN. He is now on blood thinners, and the Associated Press reports he will not play again this season.
The timeline shows how quickly a superficial clot can change:
Below, we explain why doctors keep watching a superficial clot. Hurts' case shows that concern playing out in real time. Research reported by the National Library of Medicine found DVT in about 1 in 5 people diagnosed with a superficial vein clot. Part of a deep clot can then break loose and travel to the lungs, which is the path the Eagles described.
Treatment for DVT and pulmonary embolism centers on anticoagulants, often called blood thinners. According to Cleveland Clinic, these medications keep a clot from growing and stop new ones from forming while the body breaks down the existing clot. Treatment usually lasts at least three months, which matches the timeline reported for Hurts. Blood thinners also raise the risk of serious bleeding after a hard hit, which is why athletes on them generally sit out contact sports.
For most people, recovery means taking every dose on schedule, keeping follow-up appointments, and watching for new symptoms. Patients who also have varicose veins can still be candidates for vein treatment later. Once a new clot is treated and stable, your vein specialist and prescribing physician decide the timing together. Learn more in our guide to blood thinners and vein treatment.
As for Hurts, the Eagles and his agent said they expect a full recovery.
Cleveland Clinic describes superficial thrombophlebitis, also called superficial vein thrombosis, as a blood clot in a vein just under the skin, usually in the legs or arms. The area around it often turns painful, red, warm, and swollen. An injury to the area is one known trigger, which fits a cleat to the calf.
Most superficial clots clear within a few weeks, according to Cleveland Clinic. Doctors confirm the diagnosis with a vascular ultrasound and typically manage symptoms with warm compresses, elevation, anti-inflammatory medication, and compression stockings.
Superficial veins connect to the larger deep veins inside the leg. That connection is why a superficial clot gets a follow-up scan. Cleveland Clinic notes that some people with superficial thrombophlebitis go on to develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot in a deep vein.
The overlap is more common than many people expect. A 2016 review of 21 studies, reported by the National Library of Medicine (NIH), found DVT in about 1 in 5 people diagnosed with a superficial vein clot.
DVT is serious because part of the clot can break loose and travel to the lungs, according to Mayo Clinic. That complication, a pulmonary embolism (PE), is a medical emergency. Mayo Clinic also lists injury to a vein as a DVT risk factor and notes that each added risk factor raises the overall risk.
Hurts is the latest pro athlete to lose playing time to a clot. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with DVT in his right shoulder in February 2025 and returned to the court eight months later. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave missed the 2025 regular-season finale after doctors found a clot in his lung. Former Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh saw his career end after recurring clot problems.
CVR covered both the Wembanyama and Olave blood clot stories. As our earlier post on blood clots and professional athletes points out, much of the apparent increase reflects faster testing and more open conversation about athlete health.
Athletes also carry risks most people overlook: contact injuries, frequent travel, and long hours in a seat. Being still on a flight longer than four hours slows blood flow in the legs and can lead to clots, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The Eagles have not said whether travel played any role in Hurts' case.
Athletes are trained to push through pain. These symptoms are the exception. The NHLBI lists the following as signs of DVT:
Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood can signal a pulmonary embolism, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Call 911 right away.
If you suspect a DVT, CVR's same-day DVT rule-out service offers high-priority, noninvasive testing as an alternative to the emergency room. Call 877-SCAN-DVT (877-722-6388).
Hurts' clot likely followed an injury. For most adults, the more common setup is varicose veins. Cleveland Clinic reports that varicose veins raise the chance of developing superficial thrombophlebitis and make it more likely to come back. It also suggests asking a provider whether vein treatment could lower that risk.
Varicose veins form when the one-way valves inside leg veins weaken and let blood pool. The vein stretches and bulges, and sluggish flow sets the stage for clots. A board-certified Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein specialist uses duplex ultrasound to see what is happening beneath the surface, then treats diseased veins with minimally invasive, office-based procedures.
Hurts has a medical staff reading every scan. Most people have to spot the warning signs on their own. Leg pain, swelling, heaviness, or bulging veins that keep coming back deserve an evaluation, not another week of waiting.
CVR is the nation's largest physician-led vein center, with 130+ locations across 23 states. Insurance is accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Q: What is a superficial blood clot?
A: A superficial blood clot, or superficial thrombophlebitis, forms in a vein just under the skin, usually in the leg. It often causes pain, redness, warmth, and swelling, and most cases clear within a few weeks.
Q: Can a superficial blood clot turn into a DVT?
A: It can. Superficial veins connect to the deep veins, and research reported by the National Library of Medicine found DVT in about 1 in 5 people with a superficial clot, which is why doctors often order a follow-up ultrasound.
Q: Can a kick or hit to the leg cause a blood clot?
A: Yes. Injury to a vein is a recognized risk factor for both superficial clots and DVT, so new pain and swelling after a hard hit to the leg is worth having checked.
Q: Do varicose veins raise the risk of superficial blood clots?
A: Yes. Varicose veins make superficial thrombophlebitis more likely and more likely to return, and a vein specialist can tell you whether treatment could lower that risk.
Q: Can a superficial blood clot travel to the lungs?
A: A superficial clot rarely travels on its own. If it extends into a deep vein and becomes a DVT, part of it can break loose and reach the lungs. That is why a change on a follow-up ultrasound gets prompt attention.
Q: How long do people stay on blood thinners after a DVT or pulmonary embolism?
A: Usually at least three months. Some people need longer, depending on what caused the clot and their risk of another one. Your physician sets the length of treatment.
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