The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to be without rookie safety Sydney Brown when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
Brown was injured in the first quarter of the Eagles' 24-10 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.
He was carted off the field with a knee injury and did not return.
According to NBC Sports Dave Zangaro, Brown was wearing a knee brace and on crutches after the game.
Sydney Brown was wearing a knee brace and was on crutches in the locker room.
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) January 8, 2024
NFL Media's Mike Garafolo later reported that Brown is believed to have a torn ACL. He will undergo further testing this morning for confirmation.
#Eagles S Sydney Brown suffered what’s believed to be a torn ACL today against the #Giants, sources say. He’ll undergo testing tomorrow to confirm. Rough end to a promising rookie season that included a 99-yard pick six last week. pic.twitter.com/SIw69Bjffx
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 8, 2024
The Eagles drafted Brown in the third-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. It didn't take long for him to adjust to the NFL level as he appeared in 14 games (five starts), logging 45 tackles, three passes defended, one forced fumble and an interception that he returned for a 99-yard touchdown.
It gets worse knowing that starting safety Reed Blankenship was also injured in Week 18 and left the game early with a groin injury.
The Eagles were already thin at safety, now they're looking even thinner as they prepare to make it past the first round of the playoffs.
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