Eagles Have New Concern With Rookie WR Makai Lemon: Report
The Philadelphia Eagles spent all offseason preparing for the inevitability that star wide receiver A.J. Brown would not be on the roster, but one key remedy is set to be sidelined for the remainder of the spring.
On Monday, the Eagles agreed to trade Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Brown was the second-leading receiver on the Eagles last season, recording 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns.
Philadelphia made a bold move to trade up in the first round to take Makai Lemon with the No. 20 pick. The USC standout led the Trojans in receiving with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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Per Elliot Shorr-Parks of 94 WIP, Lemon did not practice on Tuesday and was spotted wearing a sleeve over his right leg. He’s dealing with an undisclosed “soft-tissue injury” and is not expected to return until training camp.
“Makai Lemon is dealing with a soft-tissue injury, per league source,” Shorr-Parks posted on X. “Good news is it isn't of any real concern and he will be good for camp. But he won't practice again during OTAs.”
The good news is that Lemon is expected to return for training camp and the injury isn’t of long-term concern, but it’s hardly ideal for the rookie to miss OTAs this spring. Spring practices are a crucial time for Lemon to learn how to line up, the cadence and timing of the offense.
Not to mention, he’s missing an opportunity to build chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles still have DeVonta Smith on the roster, who led the team in receiving last season with 1,008 yards and four touchdowns on 77 receptions. Philadelphia traded for Dontayvion Wicks earlier this offseason. He caught 30 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers in 2025.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 9:39 PM.