The Philadelphia Eagles are dealing with an injury to one of their key playmakers ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown has been absent from practice while dealing with a hamstring injury. The Eagles have been mum about his status and how much the soft-tissue injury could affect him in the weeks leading up to the team’s Sept. 4 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Here are the latest updates on Brown as his injury lingers into preseason Week 3.
A.J. Brown injury update
Brown is not participating in the Eagles’ Monday, Aug. 18 practice because of his hamstring injury.
However, Brown’s absence appears to be precautionary. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Eagles are keeping the veteran receiver sidelined at they ‘take their time to make sure he doesn’t suffer any setbacks.’
And while Brown wasn’t dressed for practice or working out with the receivers, he did take some time to throw to his fellow wide-outs during Monday’s session.
It isn’t clear exactly how long the Eagles will keep Brown from practicing. Coach Nick Sirianni was focused on getting the veteran receiver ready for Week 1 when asked about his status after practice on Thursday, Aug. 14.
‘Our goal is to get all these guys ready to be firing on all cylinders once the season hits,’ Sirianni told reporters. ‘Not gonna get into too much of that stuff. He’s working through some things, and he’ll be back out there when he can.’
While Sirianni’s comments raised some alarm among Eagles fans, Garafolo reported he didn’t ‘sense any great concern’ about the long-term availability of the three-time All-Pro second-teamer.
‘I just sense that it’s a guy that they want to make sure that they have right heading into the season,’ Garafolo said of Brown in an Aug. 14 appearance on NFL Network. ‘He’s got three weeks to get right. I saw him when I was at the practice. He was moving around on the sideline and certainly engaged. So, A.J. Brown back to work at some point in the near future it feels like is the hope for the Eagles at this point.’
A.J. Brown stats 2024
Brown led the Eagles in receiving yards during the 2024 NFL season. He posted his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, and fifth in six NFL campaigns, while finishing just behind DeVonta Smith in total catches and touchdowns.
Below is a look at Brown’s stats from 2024:
Games: 13
Targets: 97
Receptions: 67
Receiving yards: 1,079
Receiving TDs: 7
Yards per catch: 16.1
Brown also added 12 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns during the postseason en route to winning his first Super Bowl ring.
Eagles WR depth chart
Brown is the top receiver on Philadelphia’s depth chart. Below is a look at how the Eagles’ top six receivers currently align, according to the Eagles’ official website.
A.J. Brown*
DeVonta Smith*
Jahan Dotson*
Johnny Wilson
Ainias Smith
Terrace Marshall
* Denotes starter.
The Eagles just traded for 25-year-old Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, so it isn’t clear where he will fit into the team’s pecking order. It also isn’t clear whether Brown’s hamstring injury inspired Philadelphia to add more pass-catching depth or if the team simply wanted more competition for Dotson, Wilson, Smith and Marshall.
Either way, Brown will remain perched atop the Eagles’ depth chart as long as he remains healthy enough to play.