In a move that has left fantasy football players across the country breathing a sigh of relief, the Philadelphia Eagles have made a decisive decision in handling the injury status of wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was previously listed as questionable for Week 2.
Just a day before the Eagles’ Week 2 Monday night game, the team announced that Brown has been downgraded to out with a hamstring injury. This move, coming before the full slate of 1:00 p.m. ET Sunday games, has given fantasy football players a heads up that Brown should be benched for the upcoming week.
The timing of this decision is particularly interesting, as it contrasts sharply with the situation involving the San Francisco 49ers and running back Christian McCaffrey. Last week, the 49ers listed McCaffrey as questionable with a calf/Achilles injury, but did not downgrade him at any point. Surprisingly, McCaffrey was added to the list of inactive players just 90 minutes before kickoff, leaving many fantasy owners scrambling to find a replacement. The NFL launched an investigation into the situation but ultimately did not discipline the 49ers.
Brown’s injury occurred during practice this week, with his status fluctuating leading up to the game. He was not listed on the injury report on Thursday, limited in practice on Friday, and ultimately held out of practice on Saturday. Despite the Eagles listing him as questionable, the decision to downgrade him to out was made before game time.
As the Eagles set an example for transparency in injury reporting, fantasy football players are left feeling grateful for the clear communication. The message is clear: when it comes to managing player injuries, the Eagles have shown the 49ers how it’s done.
