Arians: Cardinals WR John Brown has sickle cell-caused issues return vs. Falcons
Nov 28, 2016, 12:45 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
Arizona Cardinals' John Brown (12) falls into the end zone for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers' Tre Boston (33) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Cardinals receiver John Brown left the Sunday game against the Atlanta Falcons due to a hamstring injury, and head coach Bruce Arians said Monday the starter suffered from the same issues caused from a sickle-cell trait that kept him out of one game this year.
“John Brown had just a great week of practice, a great first half,” Arians said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Bickley and Marotta show. “We got him going to a bunch of specialists today.”
Brown caught one pass for 19 yards in the outing before he left the 38-19 loss to Atlanta on Sunday.
The wideout, who last year was second behind Larry Fitzgerald with 1,003 receiving yards, has been relatively quiet this year with 31 catches for 399 yards and one touchdown. He has played in 10 of the 11 games so far, missing an Oct. 24 tie against the Seattle Seahawks after the team determined what it first believed was hamstring injury was actually related to the sickle-cell trait.
“That’s the one that’s so baffling,” Arians said Monday. “It’s not really a pull. Whatever the blood issue he has the legs tighten up.”
Brown wasn’t the only Cardinals starter to find himself dinged up in the middle of the Atlanta game.
Running back David Johnson didn’t miss snaps but had his hand looked at on the sideline before returning. Arians said Monday that was due to a dislocated finger.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson was favoring one of his legs in the second half and for a few plays left the field. Peterson would also return to the field, and Arians said it was not a structural issue with Peterson’s knee.
