Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will be sidelined for Monday night's playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a knee injury. Brown sustained the injury during last week's loss to the New York Giants in the first quarter.
The incident occurred after a short reception, when cornerback Nick McCloud stripped the ball away from Brown, resulting in a fumble. Both players fell to the ground, and Brown remained there for a couple of minutes before making his way to the medical tent. Ultimately, he headed to the Eagles' locker room, favoring his right knee.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged that it was unlikely for Brown to be able to play in the upcoming game, despite his efforts to get ready. Sirianni commended Brown for his determination, saying, 'He did everything he possibly could to get himself ready. He fought like crazy to try and do everything he could do.'
During the regular season, Brown proved to be a valuable asset for the Eagles with 106 receptions for 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns. Notably, he had a standout performance against the Buccaneers in September, where he caught nine passes for 131 yards in a victorious effort.
Unfortunately, Brown did not participate in any practices this week, further limiting his chances of being cleared to play against Tampa Bay. Sirianni expressed disappointment, stating, 'Unfortunately, he won't be able to rip it this week.'
While Brown's absence is a setback for the Eagles, quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to take the field despite dealing with an injury to his right middle finger. Hurts had a lighter week of throwing in practice to manage the discomfort, but he showed promise during Friday's practice session.
Sirianni acknowledged that injuries are a common occurrence in the playoffs and that players will need to fight through them. He defended his decision to play the starters in the last regular-season game, even though it had limited implications for the team's playoff position. The Eagles had a strong start to the season with a 10-1 record but faltered towards the end, finishing 1-5 and earning the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
As the Eagles face the Buccaneers, they will have to overcome the absence of A.J. Brown and rely on their remaining talent to make a deep playoff run. Brown's status for future rounds, if the Eagles advance, is still uncertain. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts will aim to lead the team to victory, despite battling through his finger injury.
