Jalen Hurts Played an NFL Game on Zero Sleep Before Season-Ending Blood Clot Diagnosis

Jalen Hurts being ruled out for the season with blood clots in his lungs is objectively terrifying news. But the detail that belongs in the Hall of Fame of absurd sports facts is that he played an NFL game in London on literally zero sleep because falling asleep was considered a medical risk.

The Philadelphia Eagles are officially without their franchise quarterback for the rest of the year. According to Ian Rapoport, Hurts spent the night before the London game in a hospital until 4 a.m. undergoing tests, stayed awake to avoid a medical catastrophe, and then went out and played professional football.

"Ian Rapoport reported that Hurts was in the hospital until 4 am and did not sleep because sleep was a risk."

Most people cannot successfully operate a microwave if they get less than six hours of sleep. Hurts was out there reading coverages and dodging 300-pound defensive linemen after a hospital stint that sounds like a plot device in a medical drama.

Before the medical shutdown, Hurts had thrown for 933 yards and eight touchdowns across five games this season. The Eagles are currently sitting at a bleak 2-4 after dropping a 25-14 game to the Carolina Panthers.

This completely alters the trajectory of the NFC East. Philadelphia was already struggling to find a rhythm, and now they have to navigate the rest of the schedule without the guy who makes their entire offense function.

The Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys next Monday night. You do not need to be a sharp to know the betting markets are going to violently adjust Philadelphia's odds for that matchup and the rest of the season now that the starting quarterback is on injured reserve.

The immediate focus is obviously on Hurts getting healthy, because blood clots are no joke. But whenever the dust settles, someone in the Eagles organization is going to have to explain how a guy with a serious lung issue was cleared to take hits in a different time zone.