Eagles star misses practice ahead of Super Wild Card Weekend

The Eagles are literally and figuratively limping into the NFL playoffs, losing five of their last six games after a 10-1 start.

In Week 18, key pieces like WR DeVonta Smith, running back D'Andre Swift and defensive stalwarts Darius Slay and Fletcher Cox were sidelined with injuries. Philadelphia still had a chance to secure the NFC East crown with a win plus a Dallas loss, but instead was trounced 27-10 by the lowly New York Giants. 

Not only did the loss guarantee the Eagles would hit the road for their first playoff game, but their injury list grew as well with Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts both picking up injuries of their own. 

Hurts told the media he hasn't tried to throw since his mangled finger forced him from the Giants game.

"Obviously leaving that game and trying to come back wasn't physically the best idea," Hurts said about his injury. "Time will tell with that, and I can assure you everything's progressing in the right way." he said when asked if he was improving. 

While the news that Hurts still hasn't thrown a football since Sunday should concern Eagles fans, the injury status of Brown could be even more important once the teams take the field on Monday night. 

There's a direct correlation between Philadelphia's success and the production of Brown this season. 

In the Eagles' first 11 games of the regular season, Brown posted six consecutive weeks with at least 127 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns. After their swoon began in Week 13, Brown eclipsed 100 yards just once and didn't score. 

In Week 18, he made just one catch for nine yards, which resulted in a lost fumble and the knee injury that knocked him out of the game. 

While Smith is reportedly expecting to play, per Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane, and has shown the ability to be a reliable receiver for Hurts, Brown is the engine of the Eagles passing game. 

The Tampa Bay passing defense got exposed as the weakness of an otherwise-stingy unit, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game this season. Whether it's a hobbled Hurts or veteran backup Marcus Mariota starting on Monday, they both give the Eagles a chance to win as long as they have their best weapons at their disposal. 

Losing a game-breaker like Brown, who can make just about any catch if the ball comes his way and take it to the house, could be another massive blow to the confidence of a team whose reserves are already very low.