The Eagles haven’t made any of their trainers or doctors or their general manager available to discuss Jalen Hurts’ condition or the events before and after he played vs. the Jaguars last Sunday after being diagnosed with blood clots.
The blood clots have since moved into his lungs, most likely ending his seventh NFL season after just five games.
So it’s been up to Nick Sirianni to field all questions about something he’s not an expert on.
Sirianni met with the media Monday in his regular day-after-the-game Zoom session, his first availability since it was learned Hurts will almost certainly miss the final 11 games of the regular season.
Although we didn’t learn much in the way of new information, we thought it was important to present the questions he was asked and his answers as the Eagles prepare to move on without their Super Bowl MVP.
Q: “Hey Nick, there was a report that Jalen got pretty limited sleep the night before the game in London. I was wondering if you could take us behind the decision between the limited sleep and being diagnosed with the blood clot the day before why you felt it was safe that he could play in that game.”
Nick: “You know again with all that I think that reporter put that out came out with another (report), I know you guys saw that. You know, the health of our players are, is always at the forefront of our mind. And leave that up to the medical experts, but we always, always care deeply about our players. And that’s when you are completely focused on together and connection. You’re always thinking about the well-being of your guys and that’s what we were in that situation
Q: “Hey Nick, understanding that your No. 1 priority is care for the players, I was just wondering if there’s anything you feel like you guys could have done differently or should have done differently during the whole ordeal?
Nick: “You know, guys, I’m not a medical expert. I lean on our guys in all those situations, right? I’m a football coach. I lean on our medical experts in every situation. I have full trust and full faith in them. It’s not just me that has major care for our players, it’s them as well. And so we are all there, and I’m glad to be part of an organization that cares about the guys the way our guys do.”
Q: “Nick, why was Jalen Hurts allowed to fly home despite the team knowing that he had a blood clot?”
Nick: “Again, I’m not a medical expert. Same deal there. We get medical information from our guys, and we always put the player’s health first and foremost in every situation. And that’s where we were there.”
Q: “Were you briefed by the medical team before you did this press conference on why he was permitted to fly despite the blood clot?”
Nick: “Yeah, guys, I talk to them a lot. Again, the medical export experts are there and I think I’ve answered this question multiple times. We put out a statement for you guys to hear, put out multiple statements for you guys to hear. And so and I told you guys that last week that I was going to leave it at that of where where we were on that because we put out a detailed statement for you guys to hear and to understand.”
Q: “I’m just curious who was all a part of that conversation people that you’re listening to to trust to is there any clarity you can give on that?”
Nick: “Yeah guys I understand that you want this information on this. I fully trust the people that are involved in in helping us all make these decisions and you know we have great people here. We’ve had the same doctors and trainers that the same doctors and trainers that helped 21 of our 22 starters be available in the Super Bowl. (They’re) the same guys today that deeply care about our guys to help them. You know, again, don’t have much more to say about that. That’s why we put the statement out and and also full trust in those guys and always, always, always, the players’ health is at the forefront of our mind and that again goes down to our connection and our team. Kind of feels like you’re questioning that, I know you guys have a job to do, but I’ve got the relationship with the players that I have because of the time that we spend together and because of the care that we have for each other. So it’s always at the forefront of our mind. Again I get all the questions I know you guys have questions about this. But we we care deeply about our guys.”
Q: How is how is Jalen doing and how did he take the news that he would be out for the year?
Nick: ”I always talk to our guys and I never put our conversations out there. I think that’s the thing you guys can understand that, those are private conversations with myself and him. I can just say to you I haven’t been without Jalen for an extended period of time. I have the utmost confidence in Tanner, but you know, I miss him, right? I miss I miss him and I know that will be the case. I mean, Jalen and I have been together, head coach and quarterback, for six years or 5 ½ years. So that’s natural right there. But I don’t want to speak for him in any sense of the matter. But I just deeply care about him and hope that he continues to improve with what he’s going through.”
