Eagles' wide receiver A.J. Brown will be absent from the team's wild-card playoff matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. Brown, who had been diligently rehabbing to make a comeback, will be sidelined due to a sprained knee, as sources have reported.

Brown sustained the knee injury in Week 18 during a game that ultimately held no significance for the Eagles. Since then, he had been unable to practice leading up to the crucial playoff game against the Buccaneers in Tampa.

This marks the first game that Brown will miss since being traded to the Eagles last year. As the team's top receiver, his absence will undeniably be felt, especially considering that he finished the 2023 season with the fifth-most receiving yards in the entire NFL.

Brown particularly had a strong performance against the Buccaneers back in Week 3, where he recorded 14 targets, nine receptions, and 131 yards with an average of 14.6 yards per catch. Remarkably, Brown accounted for a staggering 47.3% of the Eagles' total receiving yards in that game.

Without Brown, the Eagles will rely on their other healthy receivers, including DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Julio Jones, and Olamide Zaccheaus. If he is fit to play, Britain Covey could also provide additional depth, although he has been listed as limited on the injury report.

Although the Eagles still possess talent on paper, the absence of Brown is a significant blow to their offensive arsenal. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is already dealing with a finger injury, will now be without his primary target.

On a positive note, there is a chance for Brown to return for the divisional playoff if the Eagles advance. However, the team's progress to the next round is not guaranteed, adding uncertainty to the situation.

As the Eagles prepare to face off against the Buccaneers in this crucial playoff matchup, they will need to rally their remaining receiving corps and devise a game plan to compensate for the absence of A.J. Brown.