EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Philadelphia star wide receiver A.J. Brown was knocked out of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, joining a growing list of injury concerns that also includes quarterback Jalen Hurts.
With the injuries piling up and trailing 24-0 shortly before halftime, the playoff-bound Eagles pulled Hurts and key offensive line starters Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, apparently giving up on their chance to play for an NFC East title.
Early in the second half, Philadelphia announced that Brown, safety Reed Blankenship (groin) and guard-backup center Cam Jurgen (eye) were injured and would not return.
Brown was hurt in the first quarter after catching a 9-yard pass from Hurts. Cornerback Nick McCloud punched the ball out of Brown’s hands for a fumble, and the two went to the turf at MetLife Stadium. Micah McFadden recovered the ball for New York.
Brown lay on the field for a couple of minutes, walked gingerly to the the medical tent favoring his right left and then went to the Eagles locker room. He came into the game with 105 catches for 1,447 yards and seven touchdowns.
Hurts stayed in the game despite taking a hard hit to the right middle finger on his throwing hand and needing a quick exam in the medical tent. He was rattled on an incomplete pass attempt on fourth-and-3 from the Eagles’ 48-yard line.
The Eagles QB got his finger taped and put on a glove for some warmup passes. He took off the glove and didn’t miss a snap until he was pulled along with several other starters late in the second quarter.
Marcus Mariota replaced Hurts and threw an interception on his first attempt.
Hurts was 7 of 16 for 55 yards and one interception.
Philadelphia started the game without starters DeVonta Smith, Darius Slay, D’Andre Swift and Fletcher Cox with their playoff seed still at stake.
Swift had 1,049 yards rushing in his first season with the Eagles and was listed out with an illness. Smith had 81 catches for 1,066 yards but is sidelined with an ankle injury. Slay, a starting cornerback, hasn’t played since he had arthroscopic knee surgery in December.
A six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Cox was not listed on any injury report this week and was resting up for the playoffs.
Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor left late in the first quarter with a thumb injury, but he returned after missing a series. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was knocked out of the game with a hamstring injury.
The Eagles can win the NFC East and earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win and a Dallas loss at Washington. They could also earn the No. 5 seed and open the playoffs on the road against the NFC South champion.
