The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-2 heading into Week 6, and are hoping to improve on that record when they host the Cleveland Browns after getting a bye.
One factor in their disappointing record so far has been the absence of star wide receiver AJ Brown, who has been out since Week 1 with a hamstring injury.
Brown is expected to return to the game and blamed himself for the injury.
“It was really my fault how everything went,” Brown said, via Eliot Shore-Parks of 94 WIP Sports Radio. “I overworked myself.”
AJ Brown says his hamstring injury was a freak accident and the result of working out too hard
Says being on the sidelines was tough but he’s excited to be back on the field at The Links on Sunday pic.twitter.com/l9y7IINUKn
– Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) 11 October 2024
Brown is arguably one of the top five wideouts in the NFL, and the Eagles are significantly weakened by his absence.
Without him, their highest scoring output has been just 21 points in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, and they rank only 17th in passing yards per game, 18th in points per game and 26th in total passing touchdowns.
Last season, Brown had a career-high 106 receptions, resulting in 1,456 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, earning him his third Pro Bowl selection.
He forms one half of football’s best wide receiver tandem with DeVonta Smith, who missed the Week 4 game due to injury, a huge loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Like Brown, Smith is also expected to play against Brown.
Philadelphia has a manageable schedule over the next few weeks, including upcoming games against the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars before visiting the Dallas Cowboys.
This will give the Eagles a real chance to establish themselves among the contenders in the NFC as the season approaches its midpoint.
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