{"id":254719,"date":"2025-11-16T07:00:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=254719"},"modified":"2025-11-15T21:54:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T02:54:51","slug":"what-is-going-on-between-aj-brown-and-the-philadelphia-eagles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/11\/16\/what-is-going-on-between-aj-brown-and-the-philadelphia-eagles\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Going on Between A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles?"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Philadelphia Eagles and A.J. Brown<\/a> are 7-2, have essentially already won their division, and are the NFC’s one seed. Not everything is as good as it seems, though. Ever since the first snap of the season, something has clearly been off with Brown. The superstar wide receiver has not been a regular part of the offense, with little explanation as to why. What is going on between the Eagles and their All-Pro, and can they fix it?<\/div>\n
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A.J. Brown is upset with the Philadelphia Eagles, and rightfully so<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Not Involved Offensively<\/h3>\n
In the Eagles’ Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys<\/a>, Brown finished the game with only one target. His first target of the game came with 1:45 remaining in the game. Brown caught it for eight yards, his only reception of the day. While it was very strange for him not to be heavily involved, the Eagles wrote it off as a mirage. Head Coach Nick Sirianni credited the Cowboys for taking him out of the game, while crediting Brown for stepping up in a big moment.<\/div>\n
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In Week 2, Brown was more involved in a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>, although something still felt off. Brown finished with five catches on eight targets for 27 yards. All of his receptions came on short, underneath routes, with Brown finishing the game averaging 5.4 yards per reception. For such a dynamic, big-play threat, it is unacceptable that he hasn’t had opportunities downfield to generate big plays. This offensive approach has been common throughout the year, with only a couple of outliers allowing Brown to be the explosive player he is.<\/div>\n

Conservative Offense<\/h3>\n
One of the main reasons for Brown’s lack of impact on the offense has been the team’s increased risk aversion. Jalen Hurts<\/a> has always been a quarterback who prioritizes protecting the football, but it has reached a new level this season. This has limited the Eagles’ opportunities for explosive plays downfield, with Brown feeling the brunt of that. Whether it is a philosophy coming from Hurts, Sirianni, or Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo, it is undeniable in its effect.<\/div>\n
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The main thing that supports this is the Eagles’ lack of aggression on third down. With one of, if not the best, receiving duos in the league, an excellent quarterback, an elite running back, an excellent tight end, and a solid offensive line, one would think the Eagles would be aggressive on third down, even if they are behind the chains. That has not been the case, and has never been more apparent than in their win against the Green Bay Packers<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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Through the first three quarters of that game, the Eagles faced six different 3rd and 8+ opportunities. The results of those plays? Two runs from Hurts, two handoffs to Will Shipley, and two check-downs to Shipley, none of which resulted in a first down. The Eagles faced this opportunity in the fourth quarter, with a 3rd and 12 from their own 26-yard line. They finally trusted their stars, letting Hurts drop back and push the ball downfield. The result was a 16-yard gain to DeVonta Smith, resulting in a first down. The Eagles need to be more aggressive in their approach, as time and time again it has yielded better results.<\/div>\n

Consistently Conservative<\/h3>\n
This isn’t new for the Eagles, as there was proof of this philosophy last year. After the Eagles’ dominant performance in the NFC Championship game, Hurts offered some interesting comments:<\/div>\n
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#Eagles<\/a> QB Jalen Hurts on HC Nick Sirianni: \u201cI think he finally let me out of my straight jacket\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked later to clarify, Hurts passed, but seemed he was referencing offensive constraints on him since the bye week. pic.twitter.com\/EwPdFZegkx<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n