Whatever the outcome of the NFL's joint review with the NFLPA, the league will face greater scrutiny over how they handle players around games played overseas.

Players had a 16-hour flight for Australia's first NFL game in September, while the NFLPA's executive director JC Tretter expressed safety concerns over the quality of the field for the game in Brazil.

There are a record nine international games this year and, although the NFL ultimately wants 16 per season, Tretter added that "the goal has to be growing the game while maintaining the standards our players deserve".

Only Hurts knows how he feels about the way he was treated by his team and the NFL's doctors, but even before this issue there had been talk of the 2025 Super Bowl MVP leaving the Eagles.

Even if he does make a full recovery and returns to action, the 28-year-old will always have to bear blood clots in mind.

"The worst risk factor for recurrent embolisms is having had one previously," said Dr Mihic.

As for Philadelphia, they do not have an experienced quarterback in reserve and back-up Tanner McKee could not prevent them suffering a fifth straight defeat on Monday.

They were beaten 38-21 at home by the Dallas Cowboys to extend their longest losing streak under coach Nick Sirianni, so this could be a long season for the injury-hit Eagles.

Or with the trade deadline two weeks away, this could be the start of a rebuild for a team that reached two of the past four Super Bowls.