Hurts Injury May Prompt Eagles to Shut Down Devonta Smith, Fans Say

WHO:

ESPN - David Andrews said his family includes two sons and a daughter, ages 5, 2 and 6 months.

ESPN - David Andrews, a two-time Super Bowl champion and New England Patriots center from 2015 to 2024, shared his experience with blood clots.

ESPN - U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware wrote to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeking clarity about the league’s blood-clot protocol.

ESPN - Athletes ESPN identified as having had blood clots include Serena Williams, Victor Wembanyama, Chris Bosh, Christian Barmore, and Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton.

FF Today - Philadelphia Eagles receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks were ruled out against the Cowboys.

FF Today - The Eagles’ receiving options for quarterback Tanner McKee included Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper and tight end Dallas Goedert, who had a knee issue.

Heavy NFL - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was reported to have a blood clot in his leg.

Sportskeeda - The Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback is Jalen Hurts.

Sportskeeda - Nick Sirianni is associated with a potential plan to shut down Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith.

Sportskeeda - NFL fans reacted to the potential plan, with comments including “Eagles' season is over” and “He wants to tank.”

WHAT:

ESPN - Andrews said he took a blood thinner before West Coast or international flights during his final five seasons, and that it prevented him from practicing on a trip to Germany in 2023.

ESPN - Andrews said he is supposed to wear a medical bracelet identifying him as a person taking blood thinners.

ESPN - Andrews said he gave up rigorous weight training while taking blood thinners and recalled asking himself, “Why are you squatting over 405 pounds?”

ESPN - Andrews said he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and a deep vein thrombosis in his leg, missed the 2019 season, and took blood thinners for six months.

ESPN - Andrews said 64 of his 121 career starts came after treatment for blood clots.

ESPN - Andrews said he used blood thinners before long-distance travel during his final five seasons and resumed them as a precaution after retiring in 2025.

ESPN - Taylor Moton returned to Carolina’s lineup after being diagnosed with multiple blood clots in his right lung; he said, “It was really emotional.”

ESPN - DeVonta Smith caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers.

ESPN - Smith said he thought dehydration in Nashville’s heat contributed to tweaking his hamstring against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

ESPN - Smith missed two games after playing through the hamstring injury the week after he tweaked it.

ESPN - Dontayvion Wicks had never previously missed a game with the Eagles.

ESPN - Saquon Barkley and Landon Dickerson were questionable to play against the Cowboys; Nolan Smith was ruled out, and Jonathan Greenard was a game-time decision.

FF Today - Smith had played almost every snap in a typical game but appeared to be on a pitch count against the Panthers the previous Sunday.

FF Today - Dontayvion Wicks had an ankle injury, while Smith had been dealing with a hamstring issue for much of the season.

Heavy NFL - The Eagles lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

Heavy NFL - Hurts was reportedly cleared to play against Jacksonville, subject to getting a follow-up scan of his leg.

Heavy NFL - The article said Hurts’s injury situation could prompt a major NFL change, but the supplied excerpt does not specify what change.

Sportskeeda - The Eagles are set to be without Hurts for the rest of the season.

Sportskeeda - The article describes a potential Sirianni plan to shut down DeVonta Smith.

WHERE:

ESPN - Andrews noticed calf soreness after traveling to Israel and later coughed up blood at New England’s training camp.

Heavy NFL - The Eagles’ game against the Jaguars took place in London.

WHEN:

Heavy NFL - The reports about Hurts’s health followed the Eagles’ loss to the Jaguars.

WHY:

ESPN - Smith had been dealing with hamstring issues since the summer and missed part of training camp.

FF Today - FF Today said Smith’s reduced playing time against the Panthers indicated he was not yet fully healthy.

Heavy NFL - Early confusion arose over Hurts’s health status after the initial reports.

Sportskeeda - Fans’ quoted reactions addressed the potential plan to shut down DeVonta Smith.

HOW:

ESPN - Andrews said his doctors tested how long the anticoagulant stayed in his system—about 24 hours—to guide precautions for long-distance travel.

ESPN - Andrews said doctors found his deep vein thrombosis through scans and tests, treated him with anticoagulants, and cleared him to return after follow-up tests and an ultrasound.

Former New England Patriots center David Andrews has detailed the lasting effects of blood clots, as Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester seeks answers from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the league’s protocol. Andrews said doctors diagnosed clots in his lungs and a deep vein thrombosis in his leg, forcing him to miss the 2019 season and take blood thinners for six months. He later used the medication before long-distance flights, sometimes had to skip practice, and gave up heavy weight training. He says 64 of his 121 career starts came after treatment, and he resumed blood thinners as a precaution after retiring. Carolina tackle Taylor Moton has also returned after clots in his lung. Separately, reports about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ leg clot have been conflicting, with accounts saying he could miss the season.