Eagles vs Giants Week 8 Final Injury Report: Star Receiver A.J. Brown Ruled Out With Hamstring Injury

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without their top receiving threat when they face the New York Giants in Week 8. A.J. Brown has been officially ruled out after missing all three practice sessions this week with a hamstring injury. So much for that “questionable” tag—turns out hamstrings don’t care about your game-day optimism.

Brown’s absence stings more than a late-season playoff loss. The star receiver was coming off arguably his best performance of the season against Minnesota, hauling in 121 yards and two touchdowns. His fourth-quarter heroics included a 26-yard touchdown grab and a clutch 45-yard reception on third-and-9 that essentially iced the game. Now? He’ll be watching from the sidelines while DeVonta Smith and the rest of the receiving corps try to fill some massive cleats.

The Injury Report Reads Like a Hospital Wing

Brown isn’t the only Eagle sidelined for Sunday’s Kelly Green showdown at Lincoln Financial Field. The injury report looks more crowded than Broad Street after a championship parade.

Center Cam Jurgens, who gutted through 15 snaps against the Vikings before his knee said “enough,” won’t be suiting up. Neither will cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) or outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (hamstring). All three players mirrored Brown’s practice participation—or lack thereof—throughout the week.

Special teams ace Jakorian Bennett and veteran defensive end Brandon Graham have also been ruled out. Graham’s situation is particularly interesting, considering he just came out of retirement earlier this week. The timing’s unfortunate, but hey, at least he’s back in the building.

There’s a silver lining, though—sort of. Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson returns to the lineup after missing the first Giants matchup with an ankle injury. That’s huge for an offensive line that needs all the help it can get protecting Jalen Hurts.

DeVonta Smith Steps Into the Spotlight

With Brown out, the Eagles offense shifts to DeVonta Smith as the primary receiving option. No pressure or anything—just carry the passing attack against a division rival while everyone questions whether this team can function without their WR1.

Smith’s been solid this season, but let’s be real: having Brown on the opposite side makes everyone’s job easier. Defenses can’t just bracket Smith when Brown’s running routes on the other side. Now? Expect the Giants’ secondary to shadow Smith like he owes them money.

Tight end Dallas Goedert becomes even more critical in this scenario. He’s been dealing with a calf issue but practiced fully on Friday, which means he should be good to go. The Eagles will likely lean heavily on 12 personnel (two tight ends) to create favorable matchups and keep the chains moving.

Giants’ Defense Gets a Potential Boost

Speaking of the Giants’ defense, they might be getting back their own star player. Outside linebacker Brian Burns—the NFL’s sack leader—missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a hip injury. When reporters asked about his status, Burns simply said, “I’m good.”

That’s either confidence or denial, but either way, the Eagles better prepare for him to play. Burns torched Philadelphia in their first meeting with seven tackles and two sacks. If he’s anywhere near 100%, Jalen Hurts better keep his head on a swivel.

The Giants’ secondary is in rougher shape. Starting cornerback Paulson Adebo is definitely out with a knee injury, and safety Jevón Holland is listed as doubtful with his own knee issue. That should help offset some of Brown’s absence—assuming the Eagles can capitalize on those weaknesses.

What This Means for Philadelphia’s Offense

Let’s not sugarcoat it: losing Brown changes everything. The Eagles’ passing attack runs through him, and his ability to win one-on-one matchups opens up the entire playbook. Without him, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo needs to get creative.

Expect more of Saquon Barkley. The running back has been okay but not great this season, and against a Giants team that knows him intimately, he’ll need to prove he’s worth every penny of that contract. The Eagles should also dial up more screens and short crossing routes to create space for Smith and the tight ends.

Jalen Hurts’ legs become even more valuable too. He’s been great managing the pocket this season, but with a depleted receiving corps, don’t be surprised if we see more designed runs and RPOs. The Giants’ front seven will need to account for him, which could open up opportunities for others.

The Silver Lining Nobody Wants to Talk About

Here’s the thing about injuries, they force teams to adapt. Yeah, losing Brown sucks. But these are the games that define championship rosters. Can the Eagles win without their best receiver? Can Hurts elevate everyone around him? Can the offensive line protect long enough for plays to develop?

Philadelphia sits at 5-2, first in the NFC East. A win Sunday puts them in the driver’s seat heading into their bye week. Lose, and suddenly the division race gets a lot more interesting.

The Eagles defeated the Vikings without several key players last week. Now they need to do it again, this time in Kelly Green jerseys against a Giants team desperate to avoid falling to 2-6. If they pull it off, it’ll say more about this team’s resilience than any blowout victory could.

Brown’s hamstring will heal. The question is whether the Eagles can maintain momentum while it does.