The Philadelphia Eagles' handling of Jalen Hurts' injury situation brings back some memories for Philadelphia sports fans. There are some similarities to how the Philadelphia Flyers handled Eric Lindros during his time in Philadelphia. Which should be setting off red flags within the Eagles fan base because of it.
Lindros was one of the most important players in Flyers history, but injuries, especially concussions, became a major part of his career. His relationship with the organization eventually fell apart, and how the team handled his injuries played a role in that.
Now that's not to say that the same situation is going to happen with Hurts. But Hurts is the Eagles' franchise player dealing with an injury situation, and it's the similarities between the two stories that deserves some attention.
The Flyers have been down this road before
Lindros was a superstar, and the Flyers relied on him heavily. Unfortunately, he struggled with injuries a ton throughout his career, and there were always questions about how his health was being handled.
His concussion history eventually became impossible to ignore. Things between Lindros and the Flyers got worse, and his time in Philadelphia ended in a way neither side probably wanted. It's a reminder that getting your best player back for the next game isn't always the most important thing.
The Eagles need to learn from the Flyers' past
Hurts is Eagles' star QB, in fact; he is one of the best in the NFL, so it's understandable that the team wants him back on the field. But they also need to be careful with how they handle his injury. They've already made a dangerous mistake by letting him fly internationally for a game in London, with blood clots, which appeared to have made his situation worse. And now he is out indefinitely, and there are concerns that it may have a lasting impact on his career.
Obviously, the situations involving Hurts and Lindros aren't exactly the same. Football and hockey are different sports, and their injuries aren't necessarily comparable. But when it comes to protecting a franchise player, there are some lessons worth taking from what happened in Philadelphia. The Eagles have a chance to handle things differently with Hurts, especially after how badly they mishandled it already. Which means they must prioritize his health first, rather than just getting their star QB back.
The Lindros situation is something Flyers fans haven't forgotten, and if the Eagles aren't careful, Hurts' situation could end up being even worse.
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