Eagles’ Nick Sirianni reveals AJ Brown ‘fought like crazy’ to play despite being ruled out of wildcard game against Bucs

Brown has been ruled out of Monday's playoff game owing to a knee injury.

Eagles’ Nick Sirianni reveals AJ Brown ‘fought like crazy’ to play despite being ruled out of wildcard game against Bucs

AJ Brown and Nick Sirianni (via Imago/NFL)

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ struggles do not seem to subside. In recent weeks, the team has embarked on a downward spiral, one that has created rifts within the locker room. AJ Brown has been at the epicenter of it all.

Recently, Adam Schefter reported that the best wideout of the Eagles will not be playing on Monday night owing to a knee injury. The Philadelphia Eagles are set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round on Monday and without Brown, the game just got harder for them to win.

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HC Nick Sirianni spoke to reporters on Saturday and stood up for the wide receiver stating he did his best to ensure he is available for the playoff game but it just was not enough.

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It was going to be a stretch for A.J. to play. He did everything he possibly could to get himself ready. Obviously, you all saw the reports. It's not looking like he's going to go, but he fought like crazy to try to do everything he could do to do so, which doesn't surprise me at all about A.J. He's tough and he'd do anything for his teammates. Unfortunately, he won't be able to rip it this week.
the HC stated (H/T: NBC)

Nick Sirianni made a bizarre call last week when he made his starters play in the final game of the season

AJ Brown was unavailable because the played in the final game of the regular season against the Giants. He sustained the injury in that game and the call to make the starters play in the final game of the season was questioned by fans.

A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

Teams that make the playoffs usually never allow starters to play in the last regular season game because they need them to be rested and ready for playoff time. Nick Sirianni defended his decision and stated the following:

At that time, I did what I thought was best for the team, and I'll stick by that. And so, I don't regret. Am i upset that AJ is not playing because he got dinged in that game? Of course, I am. But no, I don't second guess that decision.

He has no regrets about his decision. Despite the void created by the absence of Brown, Sirianni has faith in his team that the other players will step up on Monday. 

Obviously, you miss the contributions that A.J. makes. He's a phenomenal player, but I'm really excited about the opportunity. And I know we've got- one reason we're in this game and this position is because of the pass catchers we have, in addition to AJ Brown.

The Eagles will rely heavily on DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Julio Jones to step up on Monday. The team will run the ball through Jalen Hurts and D’Andre Swift heavily to make up for his absence. The Eagles will need to play their best football as the team has not been what it was at the start of the season. The team ended the regular season winning just one out of its final six games.

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