The Philadelphia Eagles are soaring at 11-2, clinching a playoff berth and riding a nine-game win streak. But behind the scenes, locker room drama is brewing as wide receiver A.J. Brown voiced unhappiness over the team’s passing game, putting quarterback Jalen Hurts in the crosshairs.
A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts Don’t Seem To Get Along These Days
Hurts delivered a conservative performance, recording 108 yards and two touchdowns. Brown was clear after the Eagles’ 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers. When asked about areas for improvement, Brown stated, “Passing.” This gave way to speculations about the tension between the two stars.
While head coach Nick Sirianni downplayed the comments as a desire to improve, others aren’t convinced this is just harmless feedback. Super Bowl 50 champion Aqib Talib weighed in on the matter during an appearance on the “Up & Adams Show.”
Host Kay Adams asked Talib, “What do you make of that? Because to me, they’re winning; Saquon’s doing his thing. Is it he’s not happy, or does he want the ball more? Or is it a Jalen thing? What’s the deal with the Eagles?”
Talib dismissed it as typical wide receiver behavior. He said, “They [wide receivers] just a little diva-ish. We know that. At the end of the day, their run game is going to travel, their defense is going to travel. They’re playing the game exactly the way they’re supposed to play it.
“When you play like that, you tend to make a team have to go single high and have to come down and stop the run. That’s when DeVonta and A.J. take off. I think they’re playing it right.”
2x All Pro CB @AqibTalib21 sounds off on A.J. Brown's postgame comments 😅👀🔊
"That's just a typical wide out answer… they just a little diva-ish." @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/lcHrvcEBYH
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 10, 2024
The Bears’ 36-year-old defensive end Brandon Graham also gave his two cents on the matter, calling for accountability from Brown.
“The person that’s complaining needs to be accountable,” Graham said during a local radio show.
“I know 1 is trying and 11 could be better with how he responds to things. They were friends, but things have changed.”
Brandon Graham gives insight to the AJ Brown/Jalen Hurts drama: pic.twitter.com/RcouHPGK43
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) December 9, 2024
Despite the off-field drama, Brown’s on-field production hasn’t seen a downside. Even after missing three games, the 27-year-old WR is on track to surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight season.
His consistency makes him a vital cog in the Eagles’ machine powered by Sirianni, even if his public comments give way to controversy. The Eagles HC has firmly shut down any rumors of deeper unrest. “They’re eating lunch together, praying together. The media speculates, but I see them working daily,” Sirianni said on the 94WIP Morning Show.
For now, the Eagles remain focused on their Week 15 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As long as they keep winning, Brown’s so-called “diva” behavior will remain just a subplot in an otherwise successful campaign.