Brown Downgraded To Out Vs. Bucs

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles on Saturday elevated wide receivers Parris Campbell and John Ross from the practice squad while also downgrading receiver A.J. Brown and linebacker Devin White to out for Sunday’s road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Eagles predictably announced the elevations of both veteran wide receivers with DeVonta Smith already out from a concussion and Brown (hamstring) set to miss his third straight game, and with reserve receiver/punt returner Britain Covey (shoulder) landing on injured reserve earlier this week.

White was downgraded for personal reasons.

GETTY IMAGES: AJ Brown will be out for Sunday’s Week 4 game against Tampa Bay with a hamstring injury.

For Campbell, 27, this marks the third and final elevation to the 53-man roster this season. If the Eagles foresee a scenario in which they’d again need Campbell, the team would have to make a roster decision.

In his appearances against the Falcons and Saints, Campbell, whose locker is stationed along the same row as fellow wide receivers Brown, Smith, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson, combined for 51 offensive snaps, reeling in both targets for 13 yards against the Saints.

A veteran of 46 games (27 starts), playing on Sundays, in a prominent role, no less, has become old hat. Mentally, Campbell routinely prepares from these moments.

“For myself, personally, I always try to approach it the same way, even when [Brown and Smith] were here,” Campbell said. “You never know when your number’s gonna get called, so you don’t ever wanna be in this position and be in panic mode. So, from Week 1, I’ve always been preparing the same way, as if I was in the game. So, now that that moment’s actually here, it’s not any panic and it’s what I’m used to.”

Ross, 28, signed to the Eagles’ practice earlier this week to replace TE Jack Stoll, who signed to the 53-man roster to replace Covey.

A top-10 draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017, Ross, whose once-promising career was derailed by injuries, experienced a revival of sorts back in the spring, when he participated in Eagles rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and later signed a contract due to a shortage at wide receiver.

On the heels of sitting out the 2022 season and abruptly retiring from football in July of 2023 in the midst of Chiefs training camp, it seemed as though Ross had closed that chapter of his career, one initially of intrigue.

Working through internal conflicts and mental hurdles by virtue of his seven-year-old son, Kyrie, whom Ross revealed the quality time spent with his son during retirement changed his outlook on life, lifting his spirits and inspiring his comeback, Ross now has an opportunity to accomplish a feat that not long ago felt like a pipe dream. For perspective, Ross last appeared in an NFL regular season game in December 2021, as a member of the New York Giants.

“I never wanted to leave football,” Ross admitted during the offseason. “I think I was just at a point in my life where I had a lot going on. But literally, the day I retired, I knew it was a mistake.

“But I think when you go through so much in life, and you can only control so much, you get to a place mentally and physically, from what I’ve been dealing with and what I’ve dealt with. It was tough.

“But in my heart, I know who I am. I immediately started to coach; I coached my son. So, I was always in it. I knew it was a mistake, but where I am now, I feel I’m in a much better place mentally, physically and even spiritually. So, I’m actually thankful it happened.”

As for the Bucs, they added running back Rachaad White to their injury report Saturday with an illness, which could portend an uptick in touches for rookie running back Bucky Irving. Also, right tackle Luke Goedeke was downgraded to out.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.