U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester is seeking answers from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about Jalen Hurts’ medical care, adding congressional scrutiny to how the league handled the Eagles quarterback’s blood clot diagnosis.
In a letter sent this morning, the Delaware senator requested details on the NFL’s procedures for detecting, preventing, and treating blood clots, along with the circumstances surrounding Hurts’ clearance to play and travel.
“I write to better understand the circumstances that led to Mr. Hurts’ outcome, as unique risk factors may predispose football players to blood clots,” Blunt Rochester wrote.
The senator described the issue as deeply personal. Her husband, Charles Rochester, died at 52 after blood clots traveled to his heart
and lungs following an Achilles tendon injury, she wrote. Her letter asks whether the NFL has league-wide protocols for treating blood clots and returning to participation, what education players and staff receive, and what measures address the risks of long flights.
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware has penned a letter to Roger Goodell seeking answers on the circumstances that led to JalenHurts developing deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli as well as clarity on league blood clot protocol. pic.twitter.com/XCa8O4DUnq
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) October 21, 2026
Blunt Rochester also asked whether the league would thoroughly review Philadelphia’s handling of Hurts’ situation,including who cleared him to play in London and subsequently fly home. She requested a timeline for any review and offered to receive a briefing alongside members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
The request follows the NFLPA’s call for a full investigation. Goodell said Wednesday that the league welcomed that request while defending its medical protocols.
Hurts played against Jacksonville after being diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his calf. Further testing revealed deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. He is clinically stable, with a full recovery expected, but will miss the remainder of the season while receiving treatment.
Through five games, Hurts completed 57.8% of his passes for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
Blunt Rochester’s letter requests information and a review; it does not announce a formal Senate investigation. It also expands the questions facing the NFL beyond its discussions with the Eagles and the players’ union.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Senator presses NFL on Jalen Hurts’ treatment, blood clot protocols
