The Eagles could be missing two key players when they face the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday. At least one will be missing.
Here is Friday’s full injury report:
Out of: WR AJ Brown (thigh)
Questionable: S CJ Gardner-Johnson (foot)
Brown, 27, will miss his second straight game after suffering a hamstring injury in practice last week. It’s no surprise that Brown is out after missing the entire week of practice.
There’s no doubt the Eagles missed Brown against the Falcons, but this week they could go the entire schedule without him. The Eagles could have a tough decision to make with Brown in Week 4. The Eagles play in Tampa before having an early bye in Week 5.
Gardner-Johnson, 26, appeared on the injury report Thursday and missed the last two days of practice.
“Yeah, he pulled something yesterday,” head coach Nick Sirianni said Friday morning. “I won’t go into details, of course, but we’ll see how it goes today.”
Gardner-Johnson was in the Eagles’ locker room after practice. As he packed his bag for New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson declined an interview request.
“See you on Sunday,” Gardner-Johnson said.
It looks like the plan is for Gardner-Johnson to travel to New Orleans and make a decision just before the game. If he can’t travel on Saturday, the Eagles will have to rule him out.
Without Brown, the Eagles will have DeVonta Smith as their top receiver, and expect Jahan Dotson, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson and maybe even practice squad Parris Campbell to see playing time. The Eagles could also use more of a 12-man team with two tight ends. They did a combination of those things against the Falcons.
If Gardner-Johnson can’t play, the Eagles don’t have much depth at the safety position, but they do have options. They could use backup Tristin McCollum alongside Reed Blankenship. They could put Avonte Maddox at safety and have Cooper DeJean play in the slot. Or they could put Maddox at safety and use Quinyon Mitchell inside in nickel situations and Isaiah Rodgers outside.
The only good news on Friday’s injury report is that Wilson (hamstring) is expected to play. He is not game status after missing the first two days of practice this week. The rookie receiver was a full-time player on Friday.
Here is the Saints injury report:
Out of: DT Khalen Saunders (calf)
Questionable: LB D’Marco Jackson (calf), TE/FB Taysom Hill (chest), OT Landon Young (foot), S Will Harris (shin), WR AT Perry (illness)
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) was a full participant on Friday and is not game status, so he will return after missing a game.
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