Eagles' Star Wide Receiver Ruled OUT For Playoff Game vs. Buccaneers

A.J. Brown is Philadelphia's most important weapon on offense. Without him in the lineup, everyone's job becomes that much harder. But for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it's one less weapon to worry about.

When the Philadelphia Eagles were in the middle of getting trampled by the New York Giants in their final game of the regular season last Sunday, things quickly went from bad to worse when their star receiver, A.J. Brown, went down with an ugly-looking knee injury.

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Brown was unable to return to the game and the Eagles went on to lose, which sealed their fate as a wildcard team, and ensured they would be hitting the road and heading to Tampa to take on the Buccaneers in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

Thankfully for the Eagles, medical imaging revealed that Brown avoided suffering a serious knee injury. However, as the week went on, Brown was nowhere to be seen when his teammates took the field for practice.

With each practice that Brown missed, the likelihood of him suiting up on Monday night for his team's first playoff game of the season decreased. 

On Saturday, it was made official that A.J. Brown will not be available to play vs. the Buccaneers on Monday night.

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The team has diagnosed his injury as a knee sprain and is hopeful that should the Eagles manage to beat the Buccaneers, Brown could have a chance to return to the lineup for the divisional round. 

Eagles’ WR A.J. Brown, who worked hard in his rehab to try to make it back this week, is out for Monday night’s wild-card matchup vs. the Bucs due to his sprained knee, per sources. Brown has made enough progress that, if the Eagles advance, he could return for the divisional… pic.twitter.com/CsOBMWgE1q

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2024

Brown, who finished the regular season with 106 receptions, 1,456 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns, is one of the most dynamic receivers in the game. His speed, physicality, and ability to win contested catch scenarios make him a nightmare matchup for pretty much any defensive back. 

Just ask Tampa Bay's cornerbacks, Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum, who were tasked with trying to slow him down when the Buccaneers and Eagles met back in Week 3. Not only did Philly cruise to a 25-11 victory on the road, but Brown lit up Todd Bowles' defense with nine catches for 131 yards. 

The same skills he had on display during that game back in September are what make A.J. Brown -- in addition to Jalen Hurts -- Philadelphia's most important weapon on offense. Without him in the lineup, everyone's job becomes that much harder. But for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it's one less weapon to worry about. 

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