Eagles-Buccaneers Final Injury Report: A.J. Brown and Lane Johnson questionable, DeVonta Smith OUT

The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final official injury report on Friday in advance of their Week 4 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Eagles ruled one player OUT: DeVonta Smith.

Smith did not attend practice this week. He’s still recovering from the concussion he suffered in Week 3. Sunday will mark Smith’s second-ever missed game since his NFL career began in 2021. The Eagles will obviously miss him.

The Eagles ruled two players QUESTIONABLE: A.J. Brown and Lane Johnson.

Surprise development: Brown practiced on Friday for the first time since leading up to Week 2. He was listed as limited. Maybe he plays, after all? Even if he does, one can wonder if there’s a plan to keep him on a pitch count as he returns from a hamstring injury. The Eagles could aim to use him as a decoy. Or maybe he’s just going to tough it out and play since the team really needs him with Smith already unavailable.

Johnson did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday but he was upgraded to limited on Friday. It seems like there’s a chance he’ll clear the concussion protocol in time to start at right tackle against the Bucs. That’d be huge.

The Eagles will officially announce their Week 4 inactives at 11:30 AM Eastern on Sunday morning. We’ll see then if Brown and/or Johnson are active or not.

Elsewhere on the injury report, Milton Williams was upgraded to full go after being limited on Thursday. He’s listed without a game status and thus will be ready to play. Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, and Darius Slay were also full go on Friday. They’re also ready to play.

With the Eagles putting Britain Covey on injured reserve earlier this week, it’ll be Cooper DeJean who handles punt return duty moving forward.

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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
OUT

WR DeVonta Smith (concussion)

QUESTIONABLE

WR A.J. Brown (hamstring)
OT Lane Johnson (concussion)

…

RESERVE/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM (PUP)

S Sydney Brown

Brown is eligible to be activated after missing the Eagles’ first four games.

RESERVE/INJURED

DB James Bradberry IV
OT Le’Raven Clark
WR Britain Covey
WR Jacob Harris
TE Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.
WR Ainias Smith

Bradberry, Albert O, and Smith are eligible to be activated after missing the Eagles’ first four games. Covey is eligible to be activated after Week 8 but he said his shoulder injury could take a little longer than that to heal.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
The Bucs ruled two players out: All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and starting defensive lineman Calijah Kancey. Two big absences for Tampa’s defense.

The Bucs ruled one player doubtful: wide receiver Jalen McMillan. He’s a brand new addition to the injury report after tweaking his hamstring during Friday’s practice. McMillan ranks tied for fifth on the team in targets and fourth in receiving yards this season. He’s actually played the second-most wide receiver snaps, though, with just four behind Chris Godwin.

The Bucs ruled five players questionable: starting right tackle Luke Goedeke, leading rusher Bucky Irving, starting nose tackle Vita Vea, depth receiver Kameron Johnson, and third tight end Ko Kieft.

Goedeke was downgraded to limited participation on Friday after previously being upgraded to full on Thursday. Perhaps a setback for him in the concussion protocol? We’ll have to wait and see if he’s cleared or not to play on Sunday.

Irving was upgraded to limited after missing Thursday’s practice. Even if he does play, the rookie runner might be on a pitch count.

Vea might be able to return after missing last week’s game. If he’s unable to play, that would be pretty bad news for a Bucs run defense that’s struggled this season.

Johnson, who ranks fifth in wide receiver snaps, could be in line for a bigger role with McMillan doubtful to play. That is, assuming Johnson is able to go. If not, the Bucs will be without two of their top five wideouts. And both Godwin and Mike Evans missed some time in practice this week, though they’re on track to play.

Kieft being unable to play would be a hit to the Bucs’ tight end depth and special teams unit.

OUT

DT Calijah Kancey (calf)
S Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot)

DOUBTFUL

WR Jalen McMillan (hamstring)

QUESTIONABLE

OT Luke Goedeke (concussion)
RB Bucky Irving (hamstring)
WR Kameron Johnson (ankle)
TE Ko Kieft (ankle)
NT Vita Vea (knee)

…

RESERVE/INJURED

DL Eric Banks
DL Earnest Brown
LS Evan Deckers
OT Silas Dzansi
RB Chase Edmonds
CB Bryce Hall
WR Rakim Jarrett
OG Sua Opeta
OLB Shaun Peterson Jr