On Wednesday, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts declined to say much about a calf injury that popped up on Friday’s injury report.
On Thursday, the Eagles said plenty.
Hurts is out for the Week 6 game against the Panthers with a blood clot in his leg.
Here’s the full statement from the team:
“On Thursday, October 8th, Jalen visited the training room after practice requesting treatment for his calf. He informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4th. This was his first treatment session for the calf injury following the game, after having practiced in full both Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Jalen received treatment, practiced in full, and was added to the practice report.
“Out of an abundance of caution, an ultrasound was performed on Saturday following the team’s flight to London and walkthrough. The ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot. Our medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play. Doctors recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia.
“Jalen played without limitation in the game Sunday, received treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and practiced in full on Wednesday, as reflected in the practice report. Throughout our time in London and this week, we have remained in communication with the league office regarding the matter.
“On Wednesday night, a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in the small blood clot. Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment. His health and safety are our highest priority.”
Needless to say, it’s a situation that could take some time to resolve. For now, he’ll miss at least one game.
Panthers Clips
Last week’s injury report for the Eagles included a curious designation on Friday. And Wednesday’s comments from the player at the center of the issue served only to make it more curious.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts was listed as fully participating in Friday’s practice before the game against the Jaguars with a calf injury. He had no injury designation for Sunday’s game in London, and he was never downgraded to questionable or doubtful.
When the question came up during his midweek press conference, here’s what Hurts said: “It was a very unique experience, to say the least. I don’t want to get into the details of kind of leading up to the game and whatnot, but got nicked up in the Rams game.”
There’s a lot there, in not that many words. What would be “very unique” about a calf injury that didn’t impact his practice reps? And why would it be a big secret?
The complicating factor is that the Eagles flew to London on Friday. Did he require medical care in London? Would it be something that the team doctors were able to provide? Did he have to visit a local hospital for it?
He said he was “nicked up” during the Rams game, but he wasn’t on the injury report for Wednesday or Thursday. Was is it that could have happened on Sunday that would have resulted in symptoms on Friday. (A condition like compartment syndrome typically surfaces much more quickly.)
Regardless, plenty of questions flow from what seems to be very innocuous and basic on the surface. Hurts’s words deepen the mystery.
He remains on the Week 6 injury report, in advance of Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Hurts was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, due to the calf injury.
Whatever the explanation is, there’s clearly more to the story than what the team has disclosed. And the NFL doesn’t require much more than the bare-bones contents of the injury report.
The Eagles have 24 players on their injury report. None were resting players.
Six of those didn’t practice.
Running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring), defensive back Michael Carter (abdomen), outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt (knee/ankle), center Drew Kendall (knee), running back Will Shipley (foot) and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring/toe).
The toe injury is a new addition for Smith.
Cornerback Jakorian Bennett (knee), wide receiver Marquise Brown (ankle), tight end Grant Calcaterra (back), offensive guard Landon Dickerson (knee), outside linebacker AJ Epenesa (back), safety Marcus Epps (groin), outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (ankle), tight end EJ Jenkins (toe), offensive guard Tyler Steen (shoulder), tight end Eli Stowers (quad) and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (hamstring) were limited.
Linebacker Zack Baun (shoulder), linebacker Jihaad Campbell (knee/wrist), defensive tackle Jalen Carter (wrist), outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (shoulder), quarterback Jalen Hurts (calf), offensive tackle Fred Johnson (knee) and safety Andrew Mukuba (shoulder) were full participants.
The Panthers are returning from their off weeks, so they practiced Tuesday instead of Wednesday. They released their first injury report of the week on Wednesday.
Rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling (knee) and veteran running back AJ Dillon (ankle) were the only players listed as not practicing.
Left guard Damien Lewis (elbow), outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), tight end Tommy Tremble (ribs) and tight end Darren Waller (toe) were limited.
The other six players listed on the report were listed as full participants, including quarterback Bryce Young (knee), wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) and linebacker Thomas Incoom (ribs). The other three players who fully participated — offensive tackle Taylor Moton (lungs, blood clot), defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (neck) and running back Trevor Etienne (ankle) — are in their 21-day return-to-practice window.
This is the second week Young is on the report, but he has fully participated in all four practices since injuring his knee.
Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton began “thinking the worst” when he coughed up blood in June and a trip to the hospital showed that he had “a multitude of clots” in his right lung.
Moton was put on a course of blood thinners for three months and he was prohibited from playing football during that time, so he has been on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp. Moton completed that treatment and has been told by doctors that he has a “relatively low” chance of dealing with more blood clots in the future, which has opened the door to a return to the field.
Moton’s first step was returning to practice on Tuesday and he broke the team down at the end of the workout. His message was one of thanks for being able to resume his career and continue living his life.
“My message today was, guys, just have an attitude of gratitude,” Moton said, via the team’s website. “Coach [Dave] Canales spoke on that too, man, and that’s just not taking it for granted, you know what I mean? And along with that is just making sure we come in here and you come to work, you do everything the right way, right? You put 100 percent effort and all your preparation, and that’s not just in the building; that’s out of the building with watching film, how you hydrate with your nutrition, with your treatment routine, whatever that is, sticking with that plan, man. And ultimately just that that’s how you show gratitude for this because you never know when that day comes. Honestly, it gave me more gratitude for life in general. Like football, yeah. But just past that, just now I wake up with a new sense of happy to be able to put my feet on this side of the Earth.”
Moton doesn’t know if he will be playing against the Eagles this week, but having the chance to play again at any point is a win after a summer of uncertainty on all fronts.
The Eagles won’t issue their injury designations for Week 6 until Friday, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio all but ruled one member of the defense out on Tuesday.
Linebacker Jalyx Hunt left last Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars with knee and ankle injuries. Fangio said at his weekly press conference, via multiple reporters, that it would be “miraculous” if Hunt is able to play against the Panthers in Week 6.
Hunt had three tackles and a pass defensed against Jacksonville. He has 15 tackles, a tackle for loss and four quarterback hits on the season.
The Eagles played without Jonathan Greenard in Week 5 due to an ankle injury, so they were down to Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, and A.J. Epenesa on the edge after Hunt’s injury.
Running back Trevor Etienne is on his way back to the Panthers lineup.
The team announced that Etienne has been designated to return from injured reserve. Etienne hurt his ankle in August and became eligible to return to action after Carolina beat the Lions in Week 4, but his 2026 debut had to wait for the team to return from their bye week.
Etienne was a 2025 fourth-round pick and he served as a returner in addition to seeing limited action on offense during his rookie season. Chuba Hubbard and AJ Dillon are the current running backs on the team’s 53-man roster.
The Panthers also announced that they have placed defensive tackle Cam Jackson on injured reserve. Jackson has a shoulder injury.
The Jackson move leaves the Panthers with three open slots on their active roster. They’ve also designated offensive tackle Taylor Moton and defensive lineman Turk Wharton for return this week, so all three could be back for their Week 6 game against the Eagles.
The Panthers are getting a couple of players back on the practice field this week.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters in his Monday press conference that offensive tackle Taylor Moton and defensive lineman Turk Wharton will have their 21-day practice windows opened this week.
Moton is on the non-football illness list due to blood clots while Wharton is on the physically unable to perform list due to a back injury.
The Panthers are thin on the offensive line, particularly as rookie offensive tackle Monroe Freeling deals with a knee injury.
Additionally, Canales said linebacker Jaelan Phillips has a chance to play against the Eagles on Sunday as he deals with a hamstring injury.
The Lions don’t seem to be the draw they’ve become in recent years. And the Panthers are still struggling to find national footing.
Sunday night’s game between Detroit and Carolina averaged 19.5 million viewers for NBC, per Nielsen.
The first four NBC games of the 2026 season had exceeded 20 million viewers, with the Week 3 Rams-Broncos game attracting 20.8 million viewers.
Sunday night’s game was up against an MLB playoff game between the Atlanta Braves and L.A. Dodgers. The baseball game siphoned 3.33 million viewers away from football.
Regardless, the number for Lions-Panthers suggests that the bloom is off the rose as to the resurgence of Detroit, which became much more of a national attraction in 2023. But Detroit has slipped back toward a middle-of-the-pack team in 2026, and the lack of an intense following seems to reflect that.
Bryce Young is making the most of his bye week.
The Panthers’ quarterback will be the celebrity guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay this Saturday.
The show will be broadcast from Tuscaloosa, Ala., with Georgia taking on Alabama on Saturday night.
Pat McAfee made the announcement about Young on his show on Thursday.
Young played his college ball at Alabama. While he and the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia in the 2021 SEC Championship Game, he then lost to the same program just over a month later in the CFP National Championship Game.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Young has been putting everything together so far in 2026. He currently leads the league with 1,268 passing yards, having completed 62.3 percent of his passes. He has nine touchdowns and two interceptions for the 2-2 Panthers.
