The Debbie Amis Bell Club of the CPUSA condemns the National Football League (NFL)’s handling of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ calf injury and subsequent health complications.

As in all physically demanding industries, the risk of injury is clear and present. However, when injuries occur on the job, they must be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Being a professional athlete is no different. Deep vein thrombi and pulmonary emboli, which Hurts was diagnosed with, are not only career-threatening for athletes but also life-threatening. Like other profit-driven corporations, the NFL has failed to treat the health of one of its most outstanding employees with the care it deserves.

Regardless of whether the medical advice given to the Philadelphia Eagles and Hurts was sound, it resulted in a potentially life-altering diagnosis. Yet the NFL is trying to brush the situation under the rug. After reports came out about possible medical mishandling of Hurts’ calf injury earlier this week, the NFL conducted its own “investigation” into the matter and found no wrongdoing. The investigation, however, concluded in just over 24 hours and came after the league told the players union, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), that it was not planning to investigate the care Hurts received. How can any investigation in which the accused investigates itself, reaches a determination in a day and does not involve advocates or representatives of the victim be seen as anything more than a sham and a cover-up?

Hurts has a litany of on-field achievements, including leading the Eagles to two Super Bowls in three years and winning one. Off the field, he has given back to Philadelphia through charity, specifically by donating money to public schools for air conditioning upgrades. However, the NFL and team owners have a long and unfortunate history of mistreating Black players, especially in recent years, regardless of their talent, accolades or popularity. Colin Kaepernick was shunned for speaking out against racism; Lamar Jackson’s skills were doubted because of his Blackness; Shedeur Sanders’ confidence was misconstrued as cockiness because of anti-Black stereotypes. The NFL’s blatant disregard for Hurts’ health is another example of its abhorrent racism.

Worker well-being playing second fiddle to corporate profits, and the mistreatment of minority workers, are not uncommon experiences in the American workplace. The nature of the employer-employee relationship is exploitative regardless of how big or small one’s paycheck is. The club amplifies the NFLPA’s call for a full investigation into Hurts’ care and adds that the league’s history of racism against Black players should be investigated as well. The club wishes Hurts a speedy recovery.

The opinions of the author do not necessarily reflect the positions of the CPUSA.

Image: Jalen Hurts WFT @ PHI 2021.jpg by All-Pro Reels. CC BY-SA 2.0.