Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, was expected to be out against Tampa Bay Sunday.
Now, things may have changed.
For the first time since straining his hamstring three days before the Atlanta loss, Brown was in uniform with a helmet and stretching with the team before Friday’s practice at NovaCare Complex.
The media were herded out before practice began, and Brown didn’t appear for interviews afterward. But other players in the locker room said Brown participated on a limited basis, doing non-contact drills and running “air routes” without being thrown the ball. He was later listed as “limited” on the injury report.
DeVonta Smith sat out of practice and likely will be out with a concussion against the Buccaneers, opening the door to Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, and Parris Campbell (who has been elevated twice from the practice squad) and perhaps a creative offensive scheme.
“Still waiting to see where they (Brown and DeVonta Smith) are and what their status is going to be,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Friday. “A lot of guys have gotten some good reps this week, and we’ve obviously needed that.
“If it does come down to those guys being out, then (I’m) excited for these guys’ opportunity. They’ve worked hard. It’s going to take everybody. It’s not, ‘Hey, here’s how you’re going to replace DeVonta’s production.’ It’s going to take the entire group to do that — wide receivers, tight ends and rushing … because he is a special player.”
Read through all that and you’ll notice Sirianni didn’t rule Brown out of the game.
Meanwhile, for the second day in a row, right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion) was on the field stretching and doing non-contact drills.
Guards Mekhi Becton (finger) and Landon Dickerson (wrist), cornerback Darius Slay (knee), and defensive tackle Milton Williams (groin) all fully participated.
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The Eagles’ secondary, including rookie defensive back Quinyon Mitchell, could have its hands full with veteran Tampa Bay receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
“Both guys have been highly productive throughout their entire careers,” Sirianni said. “What Mike Evans has done is truly remarkable, in my mind. What is he, 10 seasons in a row? Is it 10 with 1,000 yards? To me, that’s kind of unheard of. Who else has done that?
“And then Godwin, he moves around, being able to play in the slot, play wherever. Just a versatile wide receiver that’s had a lot of success in the slot.
“So, yeah, they create challenges because they’re big-time players. We’ll have to be on it. Like I said, I know Q doesn’t react. Q gets to go against A.J. and DeVonta every day. And Q is a guy that is not fazed by the moment. So, this is a big moment in his career, but I know he’ll be ready to play and won’t be fazed.”
It is, in fact, 10 years for Evans.
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The Eagles are in wait-and-see mode about what moves, if any, the NFL may make because of Hurricane Helene hitting Florida as a Category 4 storm. Several bridges and hotels in the Tampa area remained closed on Friday. The airport was set to reopen, at least partially, Friday night after numerous cancelled flights. The team’s flight is scheduled for late in the day Saturday.
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