Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers due to a superficial blood clot in his calf, the team announced Thursday. The 28-year-old Hurts, a three-time Pro Bowler, sustained the injury two weeks ago during a game against the Los Angeles Rams, when he was cleated in the calf. Despite the injury, he played in the following game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London but has now been ruled out as a follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday revealed movement in the clot.

The Eagles emphasized that Hurts’ health and safety remain the highest priority and said they would determine the appropriate course of treatment before setting a timetable for his return. Hurts began receiving treatment for the blood clot last Thursday, four days after the initial injury.

With Hurts sidelined, backup quarterback Tanner McKee is expected to start for the third time in his career. McKee, a 2023 sixth-round draft pick, holds a 1-1 record as a starter. The Eagles have also recently released veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who could potentially be re-signed as depth behind McKee.

The Eagles, currently 2-3 on the season, are struggling through a three-game losing streak and trail the NFC East-leading New York Giants by 1.5 games in what has been a competitive division. Hurts’ statistics so far this season include a 57.8% completion rate, 933 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. Known for his dual-threat capabilities, Hurts has run less frequently this year, totaling 107 rushing yards and one touchdown on 23 carries.

Hurts is not the only player dealing with injury issues on the Eagles’ roster. Top receiver DeVonta Smith has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, and running back Saquon Barkley was sidelined with a hamstring issue last Sunday. Both players’ availability for Week 6 remains uncertain. In total, the team reported 24 players on its injury list as of Wednesday.

Medical experts note that a superficial blood clot occurs in veins closer to the skin and is generally considered less dangerous than a deep vein thrombosis. Still, the movement noted in Hurts’ clot has warranted caution from the Eagles’ medical staff, prompting his absence from the upcoming game.

Throughout the injury developments, the Eagles maintained communication with the NFL league office regarding Hurts’ condition. The team also reported that Hurts participated fully in practice on Wednesday before the latest ultrasound findings.