PHILADELPHIA — Eagles star broad receiver A.J. Brown was absent from Thursday’s observe as he manages a knee harm that Philadelphia doesn’t imagine will preserve him out of Sunday’s wild-card playoff recreation in opposition to the Packers.
Brown was listed on Wednesday’s observe report as restricted with a knee/relaxation designation. Brown was noticed exiting that observe with a staffer lower than 10 minutes into the session. He didn’t return, in keeping with a group supply, who added Brown’s departure was a part of the plan.
The Eagles struck an identical tone Thursday after Brown was not current on the observe discipline, sustaining that that is all a part of the upkeep plan for the three-time Professional Bowler and the group expects him to play Sunday.
With Brown lacking the majority of observe this week, there will likely be little time to get on-field work in with quarterback Jalen Hurts, who practiced for the second straight day as he continues to progress by way of the concussion protocol.
Hurts suffered the concussion within the first quarter in opposition to the Commanders on Dec. 22 and didn’t see the sector once more till Wednesday. Coach Nick Sirianni mentioned he isn’t involved about Hurts displaying indicators of rust following an prolonged layoff.
“For this reason you undergo the method of practising and all of the issues that you just do at observe to get on the identical web page and do the whole lot there,” he mentioned. “We really feel like we observe at a really excessive depth stage. For this reason you go on the market and do these issues.”
Brown first appeared on the harm report with a knee harm on Dec. 19. Brown indicated he got here out of the Week 15 matchup in opposition to the Steelers wholesome, suggesting it occurred throughout observe.
He appeared within the subsequent two video games in opposition to the Commanders and Cowboys, totaling 11 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns earlier than sitting out the regular-season finale in opposition to the Giants, because the Eagles rested most of their starters with the No. 2 seed within the playoffs locked up.
Brown missed three video games earlier within the season with a hamstring harm. The Eagles went 1-2 in these video games earlier than rattling off 10 straight wins with him again within the lineup en path to a 14-3 end.
Brown performed an enormous position within the regular-season opener in opposition to the Packers in São Paulo, Brazil, hauling in 5 catches for 119 yards and a landing in Philadelphia’s 34-29 victory.
A hamstring harm stored Brown out of the Eagles’ wild-card recreation final January in opposition to the Buccaneers — a 32-9 loss that cemented Philadelphia’s 1-6 collapse down the stretch.
