Eagles rule out Jalen Hurts after calf blood clot moves

The Philadelphia Eagles have ruled quarterback Jalen Hurts out of Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. A follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday night showed "movement in the small blood clot" in his calf, the team said in a statement on Thursday, Oct. 15. The team said it is determining a course of treatment and gave no timetable for his return.

What the Eagles said

The team's statement laid out this timeline:

• Hurts was cleated in the Oct. 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
• He first received treatment on the calf on Oct. 8, after practice, then took part fully in practices Wednesday through Friday.
• A Saturday ultrasound in London found a superficial blood clot. Doctors cleared him to play, and he played without limitation against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Doctors recommended a follow-up within 72 hours; that was the Wednesday-night scan.

The team said it kept the league office informed and called Hurts's health the priority. It described the clot as "small" and "superficial" and did not call it a deep-vein thrombosis.

Tanner McKee to start

Backup Tanner McKee is expected to start against Carolina, the Philadelphia Inquirer and AP reported. Head coach Nick Sirianni told him he would be "the guy this week," according to those reports. McKee is in his fourth season and has made two career starts, both in Week 18 games.

The Eagles enter Week 6 at 2-3 on a three-game losing streak, according to CBS Sports and AP.

Roster options

The Eagles released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton last week. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the team could re-sign him; McKee and rookie Cole Payton are the other quarterbacks currently available. The team has not announced a move.

CBS Sports, in an analysis piece, floated Cincinnati's Joe Flacco as a possible trade target. That is commentators' speculation; the Eagles have not said they are pursuing a trade. The same CBS piece also made the case for staying the course with McKee.

What's unknown

The Eagles have not said what treatment Hurts will receive or how long he will be out.