The Philadelphia Eagles are scheduled to hold joint practices with the New England Patriots on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 ahead of their preseason matchup. The practices will mark the first time A.J. Brown faces his former team since being traded this offseason.
Despite the storyline surrounding the matchup, Brown made it clear to reporters that there are no hard feelings toward the Eagles and that he does not view the game as a revenge opportunity.
"We won a Super Bowl. It's no revenge on my part. It's nothing but love."
Brown spent the last four seasons in Philadelphia, totaling 5,032 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns while earning three All-Pro selections. The Eagles reached the playoffs in each of his seasons with the team, including two Super Bowl appearances and one championship. However, Brown's production declined each year, which contributed to Philadelphia.
Defensive back Cooper DeJean, who Brown gave the nickname "All-Pro Coop," is excited for the opportunity to face his former teammate.
"I would love to go against him. I know he'd love to go against us, too, so it'd be a fun battle."
According to Howie Roseman, the 29-year-old wide receiver felt that moving on was the right decision for his family and the next stage of his career. Despite the trade, Brown has maintained strong relationships with his former teammates.
After the disappointing loss in the NFL Wild Card game against the San Francisco 49ers, which ended up being the final time Brown suited up in Eagles' green, he left cornerback Quinyon Mitchell a signed jersey that read "All-Pro Q, Love Bro. Proud of U."
He attended DeVonta Smith's wedding in June, which Jalen Hurts also attended, who pushed back on any idea of bad blood, saying their relationship is still strong.
Ultimately, everyone involved benefited from the move. Eagles got a valuable first round pick, Brown got the fresh start he was looking for and the Patriots got a dominant playmaker to build around.
The joint practices will be a great chance for the Eagles to test their roster while welcoming back a player who was a key part of one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.
