Jalen Hurts is out indefinitely after the Philadelphia Eagles ruled out their starting quarterback with a blood clot in his calf, and the team wasted no time reinforcing the position. Philadelphia is signing Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad to its 53-man roster, according to multiple reports, as the Eagles prepare for life without their franchise quarterback while the Jalen Hurts blood clot is treated.
The Jalen Hurts blood clot was originally discovered via ultrasound after Philadelphia’s Saturday walkthrough ahead of last Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. A follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday revealed movement in the small clot, prompting the Eagles to rule Hurts out for Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers while they “determine the appropriate course of treatment.” No timeline has been provided for his return.
Jalen Hurts Blood Clot: How the Diagnosis Unfolded
The issue developed after Hurts was cleated during Philadelphia’s Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He played through it against Jacksonville in London, but the latest medical finding forced the Eagles to prioritize their star’s health over the stretch run. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Hurts would be “out indefinitely,” and head coach Nick Sirianni repeatedly referred questions about his status to the team’s official statement, emphasizing that the organization’s only priority is the quarterback’s recovery.
The Jalen Hurts blood clot could not come at a worse moment for Philadelphia. The Eagles have lost three straight games following a 2-0 start and sit at 2-3 — under .500 for the first time since the 2021 season. With the season threatening to slip away, the quarterback room suddenly became the most important storyline in the NFC East.
Jalen Hurts Blood Clot Sidelines Eagles’ Starter Indefinitely
Tanner McKee is expected to make his third career start on Sunday against Carolina. Philadelphia released veteran Andy Dalton, who opened the season as the primary backup, on October 9, leaving McKee as the clear next man up and rookie Cole Payton — a fifth-round pick out of North Dakota State who completed just five of 12 passes in the preseason — as the only other quarterback on the roster. With Hurts potentially sidelined for more than one game, the Eagles needed experienced depth, and the Jalen Hurts blood clot timeline remains entirely uncertain. The Eagles will play the Panthers on Sunday afternoon with McKee expected to start.
Enter Milton. The 26-year-old brings a big arm and dual-threat ability after spending the first five weeks of the 2026 season on the Cowboys’ practice squad. Notably, league rules require the Eagles to keep him on the active roster for at least three weeks after signing him off another team’s practice squad — a commitment that signals Philadelphia is bracing for an extended absence.
Joe Milton Adds Arm Talent as Jalen Hurts Blood Clot Heals
Milton, 6-foot-5, was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and traded to Dallas in April 2025. He appeared in five regular-season games across his first two seasons without recording a start, completing 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 66 yards and a score. He lost the Cowboys’ backup job to Sam Howell in training camp this year and was waived at final cuts before landing on the practice squad.
His calling card is elite arm strength — he unleashed a 62 mph throw at the NFL Combine, the fastest ever recorded — and that trait alone makes him an intriguing insurance policy as the Jalen Hurts blood clot situation develops. In the 2026 preseason with Dallas, Milton completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Payton is likely to serve as McKee’s backup on Sunday while Milton acclimates to the playbook, but the newcomer’s experience could earn him the No. 2 role if the Jalen Hurts blood clot keeps the starter sidelined beyond this week. For a team trying to stop a three-game skid, every option at quarterback now matters.