The Philadelphia Eagles will be without Jalen Hurts in Week 6. The team announced Thursday that Hurts is out for Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers after a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in a small, superficial blood clot in his calf. The news was first reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
For fantasy football managers, this is a gut punch on top of an already brutal week in Philadelphia. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith both missed Wednesday's practice with hamstring injuries; the backfield is down to its fourth and fifth options, and now Tanner McKee is in line to start against a Panthers team coming off its bye. Here is everything you need to know about the Jalen Hurts injury and how it shakes up your Week 6 lineups. For the full slate, check out our Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings.
Jalen Hurts Ruled Out for Week 6 With a Superficial Blood Clot
The timeline here matters, and the Eagles laid out the whole sequence in a team statement. Hurts was cleated in the calf during the Week 4 loss to the Rams on Oct. 4. He went to the training room for treatment after practice on Thursday, Oct. 8, and was added to the practice report Friday. Out of caution, the Eagles ran an ultrasound Saturday after the team flew to London, and that is when the superficial clot was discovered.
Team doctors and medical staff in London concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Hurts could safely play. He did, playing without limitation in the 19-17 loss to Jacksonville. He received treatment Monday and Tuesday and practiced in full Wednesday. But the follow-up ultrasound Wednesday night showed the clot had moved, and the Eagles shut him down while they determine the appropriate course of treatment. The team says it has been in communication with the league office throughout.
Jalen Hurts Blood Clot Timeline
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Sun., Oct. 4 | Hurts is cleated in the calf during the Week 4 loss to the Rams |
| Thu., Oct. 8 | Requests treatment on the calf after practice |
| Fri., Oct. 9 | Receives treatment, practices in full, added to the practice report |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Ultrasound in London reveals a superficial blood clot; medical staff clears him to play |
| Sun., Oct. 11 | Plays the full game vs. Jacksonville: 21-of-40, 220 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT |
| Wed., Oct. 14 | Practices in full; follow-up ultrasound that night shows the clot has moved |
| Thu., Oct. 15 | Eagles rule Hurts out for Sunday vs. Carolina |
How Long Will Jalen Hurts Be Out?
Right now, nobody outside the building knows. The Eagles have only ruled Hurts out for Sunday and have not attached a return timeline. Superficial clots form in veins near the surface of the skin and are generally considered less serious than a deep vein thrombosis, but a clot that is moving changes the conversation, and treatment decisions will drive how quickly he can get back on the field.
Fantasy takeaway: Do not drop Jalen Hurts. Treat this as a one-week absence with real downside risk, stash him on IR if your league allows it once he is designated, and plan for a Week 6 replacement. If you need one, our Week 6 QB Rankings / Streaming QBs has you covered.
Tanner McKee Fantasy Outlook for Week 6 vs. Panthers
Tanner McKee climbed back into the QB2 role in Week 4 after Andy Dalton threw an end-zone interception on his lone pass attempt against the Rams, and the Eagles have since released Dalton. That leaves the 6-foot-6 former sixth-round pick out of Stanford as the next man up.
McKee has two career starts, both in Week 18 with the Eagles resting starters:
- 2024 vs. Giants: 27-of-41, 269 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
- 2025 vs. Commanders: 21-of-40, 241 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Two things jump out. First, he threw 40-plus times in both starts, so the volume has been there. Second, he is a pure pocket passer. That matters enormously in fantasy, because so much of the Hurts floor comes from his legs, and none of it transfers to McKee.
The environment is rough. The Eagles rank 30th in EPA per play and 31st in yards per play, Lane Johnson retired after Week 4, and the interior of the offensive line is banged up, with Landon Dickerson limited in his first week back from IR, Tyler Steen limited with a shoulder issue and center Drew Kendall not practicing. Carolina added former Eagle Jaelan Phillips to its pass rush this offseason, and you can bet he would love to see a statuesque quarterback across from him.
The silver lining is game script. The Panthers have averaged just over 30 points per game behind a breakout start from Bryce Young, and if Carolina builds a lead, McKee will be throwing a lot.
Verdict: McKee is a low-end QB2 in superflex and 2QB leagues, where the passing volume gives him a usable yardage floor. Keep him out of 1QB lineups. He is worth a waiver add only in superflex formats.
Eagles Running Backs Fantasy Impact: Saquon Barkley, Dameon Pierce and the Backfield
Saquon Barkley (Hamstring)
Barkley played just four snaps against the Rams before injuring his right hamstring, then sat out the London game. Nick Sirianni said Monday he was hopeful Barkley could return against Carolina, but Barkley did not practice Wednesday. That is not the trend you wanted. Through four games he had 190 scrimmage yards and no touchdowns, even while averaging 2.6 yards after contact per carry, his best mark since 2019.
If Barkley is active, he remains an RB2 on volume alone, but this is a clear downgrade. Without Hurts, defenses no longer have to account for the quarterback in the run game, and that means more loaded boxes behind a shaky line. Watch Friday's injury report closely, because this is a 1:00 PM ET kickoff and you will want a pivot locked in before inactives.
Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele and Jaydon Blue
The depth is gone. Tank Bigsby is on IR with a core muscle injury, and Will Shipley suffered a partial tear of his plantar fascia in London and is expected to miss time. That leaves Dameon Pierce, Carson Steele and Jaydon Blue as the healthy backs if Barkley sits.
Pierce would likely start, but his London tape was ugly: 11 carries for 14 yards plus two catches for minus-2 yards. As a team, the Eagles ran for just 22 yards against the Jaguars, snapping a 124-game streak of at least 40 rushing yards that had been the NFL's longest active run.
There is one small bump to consider. Hurts has historically handled a big chunk of Philadelphia's short-yardage work himself, and with him out, more of those goal-line opportunities should funnel to the running backs.
Verdict: Pierce is a desperation flex in deep leagues only if Barkley is ruled out. Steele and Blue are not on the radar.
Eagles Wide Receivers Fantasy Impact: DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and the WR Room
DeVonta Smith (Hamstring/Toe)
Smith has missed the last two games and was off to the side catching passes from the JUGS machine on Wednesday, listed as a non-participant with a hamstring and toe issue. He still leads the Eagles with 19 receptions despite the missed time. If he gets back on the field, he is the most talented receiver McKee will have, but the quarterback downgrade and his lack of practice make him a WR3 at best this week.
Dontayvion Wicks (Hamstring)
Wicks has quietly become the team's leading receiver with 260 yards, and he caught five passes for 63 yards in London. He was limited Wednesday with a hamstring issue. If he is active, he is the safest Eagles wideout for Week 6 and a reasonable WR3/flex, especially if Smith sits again and McKee is forced into another 40-attempt day.
Darius Cooper, Makai Lemon and Marquise Brown
Darius Cooper made the biggest splash in London with two catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, including a 62-yard grab. That is boom-or-bust deep-league flex territory. Makai Lemon drew a steady role with five catches for 43 yards and is a PPR dart in deep formats. Marquise "Hollywood" Brown missed Week 5 with an ankle injury and was limited Wednesday, so keep him benched until we see him active and involved.
Tight end note: Dallas Goedert led the team with six catches (for 38 yards) in London. A pocket passer under pressure tends to lean on the middle of the field, so Goedert gets a slight PPR bump with McKee under center.
Eagles Week 6 Fantasy Verdicts at a Glance
| Player | Week 6 Status | Fantasy Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Tanner McKee | Expected starter | Superflex/2QB QB2; sit in 1QB |
| Saquon Barkley | DNP Wed. (hamstring) | RB2 if active, with a downgrade |
| Dameon Pierce | Lead back if Barkley sits | Desperation flex only |
| Dontayvion Wicks | Limited Wed. (hamstring) | WR3/flex if active |
| DeVonta Smith | DNP Wed. (hamstring/toe) | WR3 if active; monitor Friday |
| Darius Cooper | Active | Deep-league boom/bust flex |
| Makai Lemon | Active | Deep-league PPR dart |
| Marquise Brown | Limited Wed. (ankle) | Bench until we see him active |
Panthers vs. Eagles Week 6 Betting Line and Game Environment
The market was already fading Philadelphia before the Hurts news broke. The Eagles opened as 6.5-point home favorites, and injuries plus a three-game losing streak pushed the line down to Eagles -1.5 early in the week, with some books flipping to Panthers -1. The total sat around 42.5. Expect Carolina to move into a clearer favorite role with Hurts officially out, and expect a lower implied team total for Philadelphia.
That environment is why McKee's passing volume has some appeal and why the Eagles' run game is so hard to trust. For more on how to play this game in DFS, see our NFL DFS Week 6 content hub.
Jalen Hurts Injury FAQ
Is Jalen Hurts playing in Week 6?
No. The Eagles ruled Hurts out for Sunday's Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field.
What is Jalen Hurts' injury?
Hurts has a superficial blood clot in his calf. It was discovered on an ultrasound in London on Oct. 10, and a follow-up ultrasound on Oct. 14 showed the clot had moved.
Who will start at quarterback for the Eagles in Week 6?
Tanner McKee is in line to start after the Eagles released Andy Dalton. McKee has made two career starts, both in Week 18.
When will Jalen Hurts return?
There is no timeline yet. The Eagles say they are determining the appropriate course of treatment, so his status beyond Week 6 is uncertain.
Are Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith playing in Week 6?
Both are uncertain. Neither practiced Wednesday due to hamstring injuries. Check the Eagles' Friday injury report and Sunday inactives before lock.