Week after week it looks more likely that Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has played his final down for the team. But if that's bothering starting QB Jalen Hurts at all, he's hiding it well.
During his spring training press conference on Wednesday, Hurts was asked about the possibility of Brown being traded. Hurts shooed away the question, stating that he's focusing on learning the new offense under first-year coordinator Sean Mannion. He did, however, state that he'll always have fond memories of what he achieved with Brown.
“For us, we’re focused on learning the offense,” Hurts said. “It really doesn’t change, in terms of our approach to change or improve. There’s an ‘if’ — obviously been a lingering thing, but nothing can replace all the greatness that we achieved together.”
Hurts & Brown, or Hurts vs. Brown?
It's long been theorized that Hurts and Brown struggled to get along over these last few years with the Eagles, even during their incredible Super Bowl run of 2024. Between the body language, some lackluster performances and general sense of discontent, there always seemed to be the sense that Brown wanted more than the team (and specifically Hurts) were able to do for him.
Now, as Brown approaches his goal of joining the New England Patriots and reuniting with his former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, he'll no longer be Philly's problem (or their solution).
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
In four seasons with the Eagles, Brown played in 62 games and had 339 receptions for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns. Even in years where he was criticized for lackluster performances, he never had less than seven touchdown catches or 1,000 receiving yards.
Simply put, the Eagles are going to be parting ways with a player that's still in his prime, even if he is less efficient at getting the ball than he was a few years ago.
