Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown did not play in the team's win over the Giants in Week 8, but the bye week gave him extended time off and it looks like he won't miss a second game.
Brown told reporters in Philadelphia on Thursday that expects to be in the lineup against the Packers on Monday night. Brown was sidelined by a hamstring injury in Week 8.
Brown had his most productive game of the season with four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns in his last game action, Picking up where he left off would be a plus for the Eagles' bid to win for the third straight week.
The Eagles have not released their practice report for Thursday yet, but reporters at Eagles practice noted that running back Saquon Barkley (groin), edge rusher Nolan Smith (triceps), and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (concussion) were on the field. Center Cam Jurgens (knee) was not spotted at the open portion of practice.
Vikings running back Aaron Jones took a step in the right direction on Thursday.
Jones participated in practice on a limited basis after sitting out on Wednesday. Jones is listed with shoulder and toe injuries, but said last Sunday that he expects to play against the Ravens in Week 10.
The Vikings also got upgraded participation from guard Will Fries (calf), safety Josh Metellus (foot), and safety Theo Jackson (concussion). Fries and Metellus were full participants while Jackson got in a limited practice.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) was out of practice. That's been a usual occurrence this season as the team manages his health. Cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) and tight end Josh Oliver (foot) remained out of practice.
Close to six months later, the Packers are hosting the team that popularized the play, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
While former Packers president Mark Murphy officially spearheaded the proposal in the spring, head coach Matt LaFleur spoke publicly at the time about his concerns regarding the safety of the play.
LaFleur was asked Thursday ahead of his team's Week 10 "Monday Night Football" showdown versus the Eagles if his stance has since changed on the tush push.
"I'm not going to get into it," LaFleur said. "It is what it is. The NFL made a decision, and we have to find a way to try to stop the play, and it's a tough play to stop."
The Eagles defeated the Packers twice last season: first in Brazil during the teams' opener and then in Philadelphia during the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Green Bay faced the rugby-inspired sneak both times.
"I think the best way to stop it is to not allow it to happen," LaFleur said Thursday. "You can't allow them in those short-yardage situations because you know exactly what they're going to do. And they've been pretty successful at it, obviously."
Even though the tush push survived a potential ban this past offseason, it's shelf life in the league appears to be short, particularly after the officiating issues it's caused this season.
"S***, if you ask the Eagles' offensive players, they'll probably say, 'That's the best thing we're doing on offense right now,'" Parsons said in the wake of Philadelphia's two-game skid, according to ESPN.
"It's the most consistent thing they've got. That might come [back] and bite me one day."
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 12: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles is pushed for a first down in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Wild Card Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
LaFleur made it clear that the Packers' defense will have its own plan to defend the tush push Monday, although he didn't divulge what that would be, of course.
He was also asked why he shifted away from using the play on offense after mixing it in during the 2023 season.
"Every team's built a little bit differently, and, for me, it's always, 'Do you want your quarterback subject to some of those hits that he could potentially face in those situations?'" LaFleur said.
LaFleur's opinion on the tush push resurfaced as a hot topic Thursday with the Eagles coming to town in four days for a marquee NFC matchup. But he made sure to also talk about what kind of Philadelphia team he's preparing for, as he heaped praise on the 6-2 Eagles, who he believes are better than their rushing and defensive stats indicate.
"It's a very difficult team, on both sides of the football and even on special teams as well," LaFleur said. "I do think they're a complete football team. And sometimes the numbers kind of get skewed in regards to what you actually are seeing on tape."