NFL Network analyst floats surprising theory about Jalen Hurts’ absence from Eagles

Michael Robinson floated a theory about Jalen Hurts’ absence on NFL Network’s “NFL GameDay Kickoff” on Thursday, the same day the Philadelphia Eagles ruled their quarterback out of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Hurts has a superficial blood clot in his calf, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” described his status as out indefinitely. The Eagles are 2-3 after three straight losses, and Tanner McKee is expected to make the start against Carolina. Robinson, the former Seahawks fullback, opened by admitting he had no inside information and framed his argument as playing devil’s advocate. He pointed to the draft picks Philadelphia has collected in recent trades and said the organization appeared to be tying the outcome of this season to Hurts, which in his view would give the team a reason to move on from him later. He also noted that Hurts’ guaranteed money runs out after the 2027 season, even though his extension runs through 2028. “If I’m Jalen Hurts, or anybody in Jalen Hurts’ camp, I’m saying, ‘Well if everybody’s hurt, I’m hurt, too.’ To me, it looked like Jalen is kind of getting himself out of the fray so that this lost season… he’s pulling himself out so that this doesn’t look like it’s on me.” Robinson said. Philadelphia listed 24 players on its Thursday injury report. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith are dealing with hamstring injuries, and guard Landon Dickerson has been on injured reserve with a knee bone bruise for all but one game this season . Robinson’s point about the injury list checks out against that report, and the motive he attached to Hurts is the part the team’s own account of the past two weeks actually contradicts. What the Eagles’ timeline shows about Hurts stepping away Hurts was cleated in the Oct. 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and asked for treatment on his calf on Oct. 8, according to the statement the Eagles released on Thursday . A precautionary ultrasound in London found the clot on Oct. 10, before the Jacksonville game. The medical staff and doctors in London cleared him, the league office was kept informed, and Hurts played the entire loss to the Jaguars without limitation. He practiced in full on Wednesday. A follow-up ultrasound later that night showed the small clot had moved, and the team ruled him out on Thursday. “Jalen will be out for Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers as we determine the appropriate course of treatment.” the Eagles said in the statement . Hurts knew about the clot before kickoff in London and played all four quarters anyway. The call to sit him came from a scan and the team’s doctors, after he had already been on the field for every one of the three straight losses Robinson suggests he is distancing himself from. The “lost season” in Robinson’s quote also belongs to a team that has played five of its 17 games. Robinson also said he was not dismissing how serious a superficial clot can be. The pushback came quickly anyway. Robert Griffin III wrote on X that the take was ridiculous and that the negative narratives around Hurts have to stop. The Eagles have not given a timetable for Hurts’ return. Related Stories: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy addresses Kingsley Suamataia benching with telling line Skip Bayless sees opening for Cowboys after Eagles rule out Jalen Hurts Jayden Daniels makes promise after Commanders’ overtime meltdown against the Giants Cowboys’ Dak Prescott sends message to Jonathan Gannon before Packers game The post NFL Network analyst floats surprising theory about Jalen Hurts’ absence from Eagles appeared first on Gridiron Heroics .