AJ Brown Pops Up The Eagles Injury Report with Hamstring Injury

Ah, Wednesday. For most of us, it’s just hump day. For NFL teams, it’s the day the dreaded injury report drops, sending fans into a spiral of panic or a sigh of relief. This week, as the Eagles gear up to face the New York Giants, Philly fans are collectively holding their breath.

Why? Because the team’s superstar receiver, A.J. Brown, was a no-show at practice. He was spotted on the sidelines, casually chatting with the team’s head of security, Dom DiSandro, which is great for Dom, but not so great for anyone with Jalen Hurts on their fantasy team. The official reason is a hamstring injury, and now the entire city of Philadelphia is analyzing sideline photos like it’s the Zapruder film.

A.J. Brown’s Hamstring: Time to Panic?

Let’s not jump off the Walt Whitman Bridge just yet. It’s only Wednesday. Missing the first practice of the week isn’t a death sentence for Sunday availability. Brown, who just torched the Vikings for 121 yards and two touchdowns on a mere 4 catches, is obviously critical to this offense.

The team will likely play it safe with their top weapon. If this were a playoff game, he’d probably be out there. But against a struggling Giants team? Caution is the name of the game. Still, a hamstring issue for a player whose game is built on explosive speed is enough to make anyone nervous. We’ll be watching Thursday’s and Friday’s reports with eagle eyes. No pun intended. Well, maybe a little.

Who Else Is on the Sidelines?

Unfortunately, Brown wasn’t the only one enjoying the sideline view. The “Did Not Participate” list was more crowded than a Center City Wawa during a lunch rush.

• Cam Jurgens (Knee): This one was expected. After Jurgens went down with a knee injury in Week 7, it seemed unlikely he’d be back this soon. The real question is how the Eagles will shuffle the offensive line. Do they plug in Brett Toth, who filled in on Sunday? Or do they get creative and slide Landon Dickerson over to center? It’s a classic case of “pick your poison,” and the coaching staff has a big decision to make.
• Adoree’ Jackson (Concussion): Jackson is in the concussion protocol, which is always a tricky situation. Player safety comes first, and there’s no rushing back from a head injury. With him likely out, the Eagles’ secondary, which has been… let’s just say “adventurous,” will be tested. Kelee Ringo might get another start, or perhaps the newly activated Jakorian Bennett will be thrown into the fire.
• Azeez Ojulari (Hamstring) & Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Ankle): Losing Ojulari thins out the edge rusher depth, and Trotter’s absence is a hit to both the linebacker corps and the all-important special teams units. These might not be headline-grabbing names like Brown, but their absence will be felt.

The Walking Wounded: Limited Participants

On the slightly brighter side, we have the “Limited Participation” crew. These guys are toughing it out, but they’re clearly not at 100%. The list includes familiar faces like Landon Dickerson, who seems to collect injuries like they’re Pokémon, and Dallas Goedert (calf). Tight end Grant Calcaterra also returned to practice after missing two games, which is a welcome bit of good news for the offense’s depth.

The Return of a Legend: Brandon Graham is Back

And now for the news that has every Eagles fan smiling. Brandon Graham, the man, the myth, the legend, was a full participant in practice. After a brief retirement, the 37-year-old defensive end is back for his 16th season. While he said himself that a return after the Week 9 bye might be more realistic, seeing him back on the field is a huge morale boost. The team has a two-week roster exemption for him, but don’t be surprised if the Eagles activate him sooner rather than later. His energy is just that infectious. You could practically hear his signature laugh echoing from the practice facility. Welcome back, BG. The Birds needed you.