Eagles face Cowboys while Hurts blood clot fallout keeps widening
The Eagles are still sorting through the football and the fallout after Jalen Hurts was expected to miss the rest of the season and the NFL said the team’s handling of his blood clot situation was appropriate. Philadelphia is also reshaping the backfield, bringing back Elijah Mitchell as injuries pile up around Saquon Barkley. The immediate football focus is Monday night against Dallas, but the roster churn and trade chatter show how much has changed since Sunday.
Hurts situation keeps drawing attention
ESPN reported Tuesday that Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season after doctors found multiple blood clots in his lungs days after the game, and that treatment with blood thinners is expected to sideline him for around three months. The NFL also concluded the Eagles’ process in clearing him to play in Week 5 was handled appropriately, per ESPN and The Athletic.
That has not ended the discussion. The NFLPA called for a “full investigation,” while Bleeding Green Nation reported the union said it was not aware of any NFL investigation into the matter. For the Eagles, this is now bigger than one injury update because it affects the quarterback plan, the league response, and how the season gets framed from here.
Sources: Bleeding Green Nation, ESPN, The Athletic
Running back room is in motion
The Eagles made more backfield moves earlier this week, with NBC Sports Philadelphia reporting they brought back Elijah Mitchell and released Jaydon Blue, while also moving through other running back transactions. Yahoo Sports separately described Mitchell as insurance for Saquon Barkley amid the team’s injuries.
That matters because PennLive noted the Eagles’ season is spiraling and has already prompted trade speculation, including whether Barkley could be moved. That is rumor territory for now, but the roster churn suggests Philadelphia is at least preparing for more than one version of the next few weeks.
Sources: Pennlive, Yahoo Sports, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Bleeding Green Nation
Dallas game stays put
The next game is still Monday night against the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field, and Bleeding Green Nation reported Tuesday night that the Eagles’ Week 8 road game against Washington will not be flexed out of Sunday night. So the schedule itself is stable, even if the roster is not.
That leaves the Eagles with a short-term goal that is pretty plain: get through Dallas, then figure out what this version of the team looks like without Hurts and with a thinner margin for error.
Sources: Bleeding Green Nation, Dallasnews
Further reading
- NFLPA calls for “full investigation” into Jalen Hurts situation (Bleeding Green Nation)
- NFL: Eagles' approach to Hurts was 'appropriately guarded' - ESPN (ESPN)
- Eagles won’t be punished for handling of Jalen Hurts’ blood clots: Source - The Athletic (The Athletic)
- Report: NFL concludes Eagles allowing Jalen Hurts to play in Week 5 “was handled appropriately” (Bleeding Green Nation)
- Could the Eagles trade Saquon Barkley? 5 deals that make sense as the season spirals (Pennlive)
- Former 49ers RB Joins Philadelphia Eagles as Saquon Barkley Insurance (Yahoo Sports)
- Eagles bring back Elijah Mitchell amid running back injuries – NBC Sports Philadelphia (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
- Eagles roster moves include 4 running back transactions (Bleeding Green Nation)
- Eagles-Commanders Week 8 game will NOT be flexed out of Sunday night (Bleeding Green Nation)
- 5 things to know about Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (Dallasnews)
Philly Sport Daily writes this brief each morning with the help of AI, working only from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Let us know @sport_philly.