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A.J. Brown ruled out for Eagles game against Falcons

The Eagles said their leading receiver has a hamstring injury. Fellow receiver Johnny Wilson is listed as questionable.

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown runs for a 67-yard touchdown on a catch against the Green Bay Packers in the opener.
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown runs for a 67-yard touchdown on a catch against the Green Bay Packers in the opener.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer

The Eagles ruled out A.J. Brown with a hamstring injury on Sunday ahead of their Monday night home opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

Brown, the team’s top receiver, popped up on the injury report Friday as a limited participant in practice. Coach Nick Sirianni said that Brown’s hamstring “got a little tight” and held him back as a “cautionary” measure. Brown, 27, did not participate in practice on Saturday and was initially listed as questionable on the injury report before he was downgraded on Sunday afternoon.

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Additionally, Johnny Wilson, the 6-foot-6, 228-pound rookie receiver, is listed as questionable to play with a hamstring injury. Sirianni said Saturday before practice that the depth receivers, namely Jahan Dotson, would be ready to roll if Brown was not healthy enough to play.

“If he has to step up and play more meaningful snaps, I’ve got a lot of confidence in him, because he’s done a nice job and we can only judge him on the things that he’s done since he’s been here,” Sirianni said of Dotson, who joined the Eagles in a trade with Washington on Aug. 22. “Had some really good practices.”

Brown led the team in receiving yards in the season-opening win against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 6 with 119 yards and a touchdown on five catches. DeVonta Smith had seven receptions for 84 yards. Dotson played 42% of the snaps (32) and was targeted once, ending the game without a reception.

The Eagles also can make a pair of practice-squad elevations for game day. Parris Campbell, the 27-year-old receiver who signed with the team in the offseason, is a candidate for a call-up.

However, the Eagles may also want to call up a backup center and a third-string tight end as they did in Week 1 when they elevated Nick Gates and E.J. Jenkins to the active roster. If the Eagles want all three players active on game day, they would need to sign one of them to the 53-man roster and make a corresponding move.

The Eagles play in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. Join Eagles beat reporters Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith as they dissect the hottest storylines surrounding the team on Gameday Central, live from Lincoln Financial Field.