The Philadelphia Eagles‘ offense wouldn’t be nearly as threatening without A.J. Brown in the lineup, and the star wideout suffered an injury in Week 18. Here’s the latest on Brown as the Eagles look ahead to a potential Super Bowl run.
A.J. Brown Injury Update
Brown went down after catching a nine-yard pass from Jalen Hurts with roughly four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He fumbled on the play, and New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden recovered the ball.
#Eagles WR A.J. Brown went down and immediately grabbed his right knee after getting tackled on the last play.
Philly’s WR1 is now in the medical tent.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 7, 2024
Brown grabbed at his right knee and appeared to be in a significant amount of pain. Philadelphia’s medical staff came onto the field, but he was eventually able to limp to the sideline without any assistance. After being evaluated in the blue medical tent, Brown departed for the Eagles’ locker room.
While Philadelphia initially listed Brown as questionable to return, the club downgraded him to “out” with roughly nine minutes remaining in the third quarter and the Giants winning 24-0.
Fortunately, initial tests indicated that Brown’s ACL is intact, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Brown is not believed to have suffered a serious injury, per NFLN’s Mike Garafolo.
The Eagles were already playing without WR DeVonta Smith (ankle) and RB D’Andre Swift (illness).
Julio Jones, Quez Watkins, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Britain Covery are next on the club’s wide receiver depth chart. That group entered Week 18 with 25 catches for 261 yards and five touchdowns combined.
MORE: Philadelphia Eagles Depth Chart
Philadelphia played its starters on Sunday because it could still move up to the No. 2 seed with a win and a Dallas Cowboys loss. If the Eagles lose or the Cowboys win, Nick Sirianni’s squad will stick in the No. 5 slot and face the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccanneers in a Round 1 playoff game.
The Eagles’ entire offensive structure will require wholesale changes if Brown is poised to miss playoff games. Smith, assuming he’s cleared to play in the Wild Card Round, can be a WR1, but Philadelphia might lean back into a rushing attack that’s been dominant at times.