Nick Sirianni sends cryptic update on A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith's absence

Nick Sirianni steps to the mic Thursday morning. He flashes that familiar grin. But the room feels tighter than a 3-iron at Augusta.

A finely tuned muscle car missing two crucial spark plugs. Can you imagine the scene? The raw power is there, idling, but that explosive vroom everyone expects? It’s hesitant. Whispers follow key players moving off the field in Philly these days. And they're being replaced by backups.

Sirianni paces, his usual fiery energy tempered. This preseason holds an unexpected note of tension, leaving fans on the edge, searching for the melody.

Star wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have hardly practiced together since camp started. And that frustrating absence continues. Brown, battling a nagging hamstring, watched Thursday's session in street clothes. Meanwhile, Smith’s lingering back tightness remains a concern.

Smith's early absence during camp had fans on their toes. And this missing presence casts a long shadow over Jalen Hurts and the offense's vital preseason tune-up. Sirianni faces the music, but his answers are far from a clear chorus.

Reporter questions cut straight to the chase: "Did A.J. have a setback?" Sirianni offered a coach's deflection wrapped in ambiguity. "Our goal is to get all these guys ready and be firing on all cylinders once the season hits," Sirianni stated.

The Cryptic Update

The HC continued, "I’m not going to get into too much of that stuff. He’s working through some things and he’ll be back out there when he can." That phrase—"working through some things"—landed like a cryptic riddle. Meanwhile, the offense sputtered against Cleveland's fierce defense, lacking its primary weapons.

The concern isn't just Brown's absence. It's the pattern. He returned briefly as a limited participant on Sunday and Tuesday. But landed back on the "out" list the last two practices. And this stop-start rhythm disrupts the essential chemistry —the one between Hurts and his elite targets.

Furthermore, the offensive line is patchwork. Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson (knee surgery) is out, forcing Brett Toth into the critical left guard spot. Now, the question is whether the Eagles can protect Hurts long enough for plays to develop... even when Brown and Smith return.

Meanwhile, Nick Sirianni doubled down on vagueness regarding the missing duo's impact.

Sirianni's Sidestep Deepens the Puzzle

Asked about the lack of Brown-Smith reps, the head coach leaned on cliché. "Yeah, again, that’s the ebbs and flows of training camp," Sirianni remarked. He added, "I think if you look around the entire league, that’s probably happened." He concluded, "I don’t look at it that way. I just look at everybody’s on their own schedule."