Goodell Says NFL Welcomes Investigation Into Jalen Hurts' Care, Maintains Protocols Were Followed

Hours after reports that the NFL had concluded the Eagles handled Jalen Hurts' situation appropriately, and after the NFLPA said the league had told it no review of his care was planned, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league welcomes an investigation.

Goodell made the comment Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the close of the NFL's two-day fall meeting in New York. "We welcome that," he said. "That's part of our process. That's fine."

He framed any investigation as the union's call. "If that's what they do, they have that right," Goodell said, pointing to the union's request. USA Today characterized the stance as a reversal, reporting that one day earlier the NFL had said an investigation would not be necessary.

What Goodell said

Goodell held the line on the substance. "Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were incredibly good there," he said. "The protocols were followed."

He said chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills "has gone through that, so we're comfortable that what we've seen in the protocols have happened." He added that the league has "the greatest medical advisors and people that are working on the health of our players."

Goodell also downplayed the role of international travel. "I'm more worried about his health, ultimately, but the protocols were followed," he said.

Hurts was diagnosed with a superficial vein thrombosis in his left calf before playing the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The team flew home after the game. On Monday, Oct. 19, the Eagles and agent Nicole Lynn said the clot had progressed to deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Hurts is on injured reserve and expected to miss the rest of the season.

The union's position

The NFLPA issued its statement late Tuesday. "The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts," it said. "In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received."

The union continued: "Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred. Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward."

The two positions do not match. The league says its chief medical officer has already examined what happened. The union says it knows of no investigation behind the league's conclusion.

The sleep dispute

One of the sharpest factual questions is how much rest Hurts got before the Jacksonville game. NFL reporter Tom Pelissero reported that Hurts was at a hospital until 4 a.m. and was advised not to sleep, staying up about 36 hours before kickoff.

NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller disputed that account. He said league officials have a good sense of the sequence of events and that Hurts returned to the hotel and slept roughly seven or eight hours. Sills provided a timeline on Tuesday that also contradicted the 36-hour report.

Sills defended the Eagles' medical staff. "Any idea or any suggestion that a team physician is ever being influenced by a coach, a general manager, a team owner, it just doesn't happen," he said. "The notion that there are external factors or that any of our physicians would put a player in harm's way, that's nonsense."

The NFL said its officials were in contact with team doctors and trainers and with the Cleveland Clinic in London.

How a review would work

The collective bargaining agreement spells out a route. An investigation runs through the joint Accountability and Care Committee shared by the league and the union.

Within 60 days of the start of an investigation, two or more neutral physicians or other subject-matter experts are to be selected. They then issue a written report. Under the CBA, the report is to include recommendations on steps to "address and correct any issues," which the parties are to act on.

That is a different thing from Sills reviewing the protocols internally. The neutral experts would answer to the committee, not to either side's medical staff.

Where it stands

Hurts is clinically stable and on blood thinners, according to his agent. The Eagles, led by Tanner McKee at quarterback, play the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 7.

No formal investigation under the CBA has been reported as announced. Goodell's "they have that right" leaves open who files, and when. If an investigation is initiated, the 60-day window for selecting the neutral physicians and producing a written report runs from that point.

Whether the league's internal conclusion survives an independent review is the question the CBA process was built to answer.