Eagles Refuse to Put Jalen Hurts on IR Despite Indefinite Blood Clot Absence

The Philadelphia Eagles are currently playing a high-stakes game of roster chicken. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is sidelined indefinitely with a superficial blood clot in his calf, but according to Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, the team has zero plans to place him on injured reserve.

Refusing to use an IR spot on a guy with an "indefinite" vascular issue is peak NFL hubris. It is the football equivalent of refusing to go to the doctor for a broken arm because you might need to help your buddy move a couch this weekend.

"Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported that the Eagles are not planning to place Hurts on injured reserve despite him being sidelined indefinitely."

The timeline of this injury is a complete mess. The issue reportedly started during a Week 4 loss to the Rams. Hurts actually practiced fully before an ultrasound caught the clot ahead of last week's London trip, forcing him to sit out a brutal 19-17 loss to the Jaguars.

By keeping him on the active roster, Philadelphia is loudly signaling they think Hurts will miss fewer than the four games required by a stint on injured reserve. That is an incredibly optimistic read on a medical condition that literally has the word "indefinite" attached to it in the breaking news reports.

This leaves bettors and fantasy managers staring at a massive headache. You cannot confidently touch an Eagles moneyline or spread right now, and holding a dead roster spot for a quarterback who might miss one week or one month is pure agony.

Philadelphia hosts the Carolina Panthers this Sunday in Week 6. They need to figure out how to keep the offense afloat without their star, because dropping another winnable game will send the local panic meter straight through the roof.