The Philadelphia Eagles will play Week 1’s rematch against the Green Bay Packers in Sunday’s Wild Card round. However, star wide receiver A.J. Brown has been dealing with a knee injury in recent weeks.
The Eagles would like to make it 2-0 this season when they host the Packers in the postseason, but will Philadelphia have Brown suit up for the clash? Let’s examine the injury of the Eagles’ WR and his availability for the NFL playoffs.
Is A.J. Brown Playing vs. the Packers?
Brown is dealing with a bit of a lingering knee issue, though reports have yet to label it as anything serious. Given that Week 18 meant nothing for the Eagles in regards to playoff seeding, it might not be anything more than management.
Nevertheless, Brown was listed on the injury report as having a knee injury. He was a limited participant on Wednesday and did not practice on Thursday due to getting a rest day. Yet, he practiced in full on Friday and is set to play.
Brown has said that he’ll suit up, and with Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander sidelined due to injury, this might be the Eagles’ wide receiver’s opportunity to step up.
“I know I’m banged up. Everybody is. Gotta be out there. Give it my all. Playing for my teammates, for the city. Felt miserable last year, just let it go like that and then I couldn’t put my hand on it. This time has been different,” Brown said.
“I know I’m banged up. Everybody is. Gotta be out there. Give it my all. Playing for my teammates, for the city”
— AJ Brown says he is playing despite dealing with a knee injury this week pic.twitter.com/RWBAqdmfTH
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 10, 2025
Brown has been a consistent name on the Eagles’ injury list for the past few weeks. But on Friday, he practiced in full for the first time in over two weeks, with his last full practice session coming on Dec. 27. He was rested in Week 18 as the Eagles had already locked in the No. 2 seed. Brown also missed three games in the first half of the season due to a hamstring injury.
How Will Brown’s Absence Impact the Eagles?
Brown hauled in 67 of 97 targets in the regular season and went past the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight year, finishing with 1,079 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in only 13 games.
His counting numbers are essentially in line with what we’ve come to expect (80-90 yards per game with a score every other game,) and the big plays continue to be there (40+ yard grab in five of his 13 games).
The consistent volume and downfield usage propelled Brown to a career-best 3.0 yards per route this season, something that was made possible thanks to a 5-119-1 stat line in Brazil against these Packers to open the season (34.5% target share).
Philadelphia lost only one game when Brown took the field this season. They would fancy having the wide receiver suit up in a high-stakes clash.
Brown’s Fantasy Points Projection on Wild Card Weekend
Brown is projected to score 23.3 fantasy points in PPR formats against the Packers on Wild Card Weekend, with projected stat lines of 7.4 receptions for 116 yards and 0.7 touchdowns.