A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles have not lost since their bye week. They are on a nine-game winning streak and have all the tools required to defeat the Detroit Lions and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Despite their success, Brown is not happy with his role. After a close 22-16 win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, he expressed his disappointment and pointed out that the team’s “passing” needs to be improved. The wide receiver’s comments were taken as a direct shot to Jalen Hurts, and it created a lot of controversy.
Fans React to A.J. Brown Changing His Profile Picture to Joker
Many criticized Brown for his comments directed toward the Eagles quarterback. Surprisingly, he does not look bothered by it and is embracing the hate. The 27-year-old star recently changed his Instagram account’s profile picture to the Joker from the Batman franchise, and it sparked a reaction from fans on social media.
these players are such divas
— drone (@dronerogan) December 10, 2024
“I’m tired of this cryptic diva WR era,” said one fan.
Another fan added, “AJ Brown, the new Antonio Brown.”
Dude is a 🤡 same way Stefon Diggs acts https://t.co/E8yLNtVIN2
— Matty 🧊 (@Matty_Lugz) December 10, 2024
“These athletes think they’re in some type of villain origin story, bro; it’s just cringe,” wrote a fan.
“Bros gotta make it about him when we’re about to have a 2k rusher,” said one Eagles fan.
https://t.co/CrYUcz9kBH pic.twitter.com/Lhnim58i0b
— iAmSmitty🐐 (@IamSmitty373) December 10, 2024
Fans are not the only ones referring to the Eagles star’s behavior as “diva.” Aqib Talib was recently asked about the wide receivers’ situation, and he referred to the players at Brown’s position as “just a little diva-ish.”
This is not the first time that Brown has created a distraction for the Eagles due to his lack of involvement, and it probably won’t be the last. Philadelphia has prioritized running the ball with Saquon Barkley, which means the team’s wide receivers will eventually get fewer targets than they were used to in previous seasons.
Hurts can certainly play better, and he will improve as we get closer to the playoffs. But Brown should not call out his quarterback in public, as things like these can be fixed behind the scenes.
Comparing Brown’s Numbers From Previous Seasons With 2024
Despite a reduced role, Brown still leads the Eagles in these categories:
- Total receiving yards: 836
- Receiving yards per game: 83.6
- Receiving yards per reception: 17.4
He also has the most touches on the team (48) among receivers and tight ends. Brown is the primary target whenever the Eagles pass the ball, and he should be ready for his opportunity. DeVonta Smith has not been one to complain, at least publicly, about his role, and some believe he could be a WR1 on many other teams.
Here is a comparison of Brown’s stats this season compared to his other seasons since arriving in Philadelphia:
| Season | Targets per Game | Receptions per Game | Receiving Yards per Game | Yards per Reception |
| 2022 | 8.5 | 5.2 | 88.0 | 17.0 |
| 2023 | 9.2 | 6.2 | 85.6 | 13.7 |
| 2024 | 6.6 | 4.8 | 83.6 | 17.4 |
His usage was the highest in 2023, and the Eagles played the worst during that year. The team thrives while prioritizing to run the ball, and with Barkley having an MVP-caliber season, it makes no sense for Nick Sirianni to have a pass-first offense.
Philadelphia has the potential to win the Super Bowl, but its star receiver needs to be fully bought in for that to be possible. Hurts is doing whatever he is asked to do, and since the team has won its last nine games, there is no reason to panic.