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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2024, 06:38 PM ET
- Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine’s Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010. You can follow him on Twitter @Tim_McManus.
TAMPA, Fla. — A.J. Brown will join DeVonta Smith on the sideline for Sunday’s wild-card playoff rematch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the Philadelphia Eagles ruled out the star receiver.
Brown has been sidelined since Week 1 with a hamstring injury. He practiced in a limited capacity for the first time since the injury Friday and was listed on the final practice report as questionable before being downgraded to out Saturday.
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Smith was sidelined all week with a concussion he sustained early in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. Smith’s momentum was going backward after he was corralled by Saints defenders following a short completion, and he was blindsided by a high hit from defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. There was no flag on the play, but Boyd was subsequently fined $4,665 for a late hit.
With Brown and Smith unable to play, the Eagles elevated veteran receivers Parris Campbell and John Ross from the practice squad. They’ll join Jahan Dotson and rookie Johnny Wilson on the active game-day roster.
With the Eagles short-handed against New Orleans, tight end Dallas Goedert stepped up and had a career day, hauling in 10 catches for 170 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley also helped carry the load with 156 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Jalen Hurts has struggled against the Tampa Bay defense in his career. He is 1-3 lifetime against the Bucs with four touchdowns to five interceptions and a 58% completion rate.
The Eagles lost 32-9 to the Bucs in January’s playoff game, capping the team’s 1-6 collapse to end the season.
