The updated injury report for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday revealed a few important things ahead of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round matchup.
For starters, both quarterbacks are getting healthy. Jordan Love (elbow) and Jalen Hurts (concussion/finger) both practiced in full on Sunday. Love threw during practice on Wednesday and Thursday and should be fine after injuring his throwing elbow in the season finale, while Hurts is now just a clearance from an independent neurologist away from passing the concussion protocol and playing Sunday. It’s a safe bet that both Love and Hurts will be the starting quarterbacks on Sunday.
The Eagles may have a new or worsening injury worry. Receiver A.J. Brown didn’t practice on Thursday while working through a knee injury. Participation regression during the week is never a good sign for an injury, so even if Brown plays through the knee issue on Sunday, he might be limited physically. Per Tim McManus of ESPN, the Eagles are sitting Brown — who had 119 yards against the Packers in Week 1 — during practice this week as part of a “maintenance” plan for the knee injury and he is expected to play Sunday.
The Packers, meanwhile, returned defensive lineman TJ Slaton to the practice field after he missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury. He is expecting to play Sunday, so the Packers should have one of their best run stuffers inside available against Saquon Barkley. Also, backup quarterback Malik Willis went from limited on Wednesday to a full participation on Thursday. He is working through a right thumb injury suffered in the season finale but should now be on track to be Love’s backup on Sunday.
The only other update from the injury report was Eagles backup offensive lineman Jack Driscoll being added as a limited participant on Thursday with a new ankle injury.
The Packers and Eagles will provide a final injury report with playing status designations (out, doubtful, questionable) on Friday afternoon.