A.J. Brown questionable to play against Atlanta Falcons after missing Eagles’ Saturday practice

The Eagles announced that A.J. Brown is questionable to play in Monday night’s home opener against the Atlanta Falcons after he missed the final practice of the week on Saturday.

The 27-year-old receiver popped up on the injury report on Friday with a hamstring issue and was listed as a limited participant in practice. Nick Sirianni said before practice Saturday that Brown’s hamstring “got a little tight” in that session, so they backed him off of a full workload as a “cautionary” measure.

Sirianni expressed that they would be similarly conservative in their approach with Brown on Saturday. Ultimately, he did not participate at all. Brown wasn’t the only one — Johnny Wilson, the 6-foot-6, 228-pound rookie receiver out of Florida State, also missed practice with a hamstring injury. Like Brown, Wilson is listed as questionable to play against the Falcons on the final injury report.

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The 6-foot-1, 226-pound Brown is in his third season with the Eagles and his sixth in the NFL. He has been the team’s leader in receiving yards since he arrived via trade with the Tennessee Titans. He posted 1,496 in 2022 (11 touchdowns, the team high) and 1,456 in 2023 (seven touchdowns, tied with DeVonta Smith for the team high). Brown suffered a knee sprain in the regular-season finale last year that caused him to miss the playoffs.

Brown was the team’s leader in receiving yards in the season-opening victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 6 with 119 yards and a touchdown on five catches.

If Brown isn’t able to play on Monday night or is on a pitch count, Sirianni said depth receivers, including Jahan Dotson and Britain Covey, will be “ready to go.” Dotson, the 2022 No. 16 overall pick out of Penn State whom the Eagles acquired from the Washington Commanders on Aug. 22, took the third-most snaps of the team’s receivers in Week 1 behind Brown and Smith.

The 24-year-old receiver played 42% of the offensive snaps (32) against the Packers and was targeted once, finishing the night without a catch. Still, Sirianni said the third receiver typically gets “unfairly judged” because of their lack of opportunities in the passing game behind Brown, Smith, and Dallas Goedert. He said he has been impressed with Dotson’s smooth route-running and strong work ethic since joining the team.

“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. “Had some really good practices.”

Roughly three weeks into his tenure with the Eagles, Dotson said he is pretty comfortable in Kellen Moore’s offense and ready to take on a potentially increased workload if called upon.

“We’re preparing right now as if A.J.’s playing,” Dotson said. “That’s the goal. But if my opportunities do come, I’m going to take full advantage of them. That’s what I was pretty much brought here to do. Take advantage of every single opportunity that’s given to me.”

Aside from Brown and Wilson, the rest of the players who were listed on the final injury report were full participants in practice, including Fred Johnson (thumb), Milton Williams (foot), Isaiah Rodgers (hand), and Devin White (foot). They have been removed from the injury report and are available to play in Monday’s game.

Three weeks post-surgery, Rodgers said his hand is feeling good as he strives to make his Eagles debut. Even if the cornerback doesn’t play, he said he’s looking forward to his first game at the Linc as a member of the home team,

He said he’s “ready for that moment and the atmosphere. “I’m really just accepting what it’s going to be with the Eagles fans and the Eagles nation. I’m really excited to see it.”

Tyler Steen was a new addition to the final injury report with an ankle issue, but he was a full participant in practice and also is good to go against the Falcons. The second-year guard/tackle dealt with an ankle injury during training camp. It is unknown if Steen’s current injury is related to his previous one.

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.