Is a Three-Time All-Pro Receiver Being Wasted in the Eagles Offense?
AJ Brown has already proven himself to be one of the Eagles’ biggest weapons on offense, but through September of the 2025 season, something feels off. As the NFL enters Week Five, the conversation has shifted from his dominance to his absence. So far, Brown and Jalen Hurts have only reminded everyone how dangerous they can be when they connect in flashes—like in the second half against the Rams in Week Three. However, those flashes have been rare, and fans have noticed since the opening kickoff game. In his career with the Eagles, Brown filled box scores with his explosive performances, but this year, the numbers are quieter, the targets are fewer, and the frustration is building. The question that now looms over the franchise is simple, but almost worrisome—is AJ Brown still the Eagles’ WR1, or is his role shifting into something more secondary?
The numbers are telling. For his 2025 campaign, Brown is averaging just under 38 yards per game. Before this season, his career average in Philly was almost 86 yards per game. In each of the three seasons he has had with the Birds, he has topped 1,000 receiving yards, yet at the quarter mark of this season, he sits at 151 yards total—109 of those coming from just one half against the Rams. As of now, he is trailing DeVonta Smith in total receiving yards, which is the opposite of what many were expecting. Defensive coordinators are still scheming around who they see as a primary threat, allotting their best corners and sometimes multiple defenders to try to contain Brown. However, if he is not being targeted, what is the point? The real question is whether being underutilized is weighing on Brown himself, or if the frustration mostly belongs more to fans—and his fantasy owners—left staring at disappointing box scores.
The tension is not hidden very well. Despite last Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers, Brown walked off the field visibly frustrated. He followed that up with a tweet that suggested that when someone feels unwelcome or unheard, they should walk away—a message that stirred speculation that he might be looking to leave the franchise. Later on, he dialed his frustration back a bit and made it clear in an interview that not only is he happy in Philadelphia, but it’s his home. He also said he only wants the Eagles to succeed, while stressing that he has been working with Jalen Hurts and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo to get on the same page. Perhaps the story here is more one of playcalling and on-field chemistry, because it certainly isn’t about a decline in his talent.
Everyone has seen what the Eagles can look like when Hurts brings Brown to life on the field. He is a game-changer, demands attention, and continuously tilts the field in the Eagles’ favor, which makes the uncertainty of his performance such a pressing matter for fans. It will be interesting to see if this quiet start is just a short slump that will fade once Hurts gets into a better passing rhythm with Brown, or whether it's a sign of a bigger issue. Regardless, if the connection doesn’t smooth itself out soon, Brown’s underwhelming stat line may echo in the locker room, and the Eagles cannot afford for this to become more than just a slow start to his season. Though they are undefeated, special teams have played a major role in two of their games, so it may be time to get the ball to AJ Brown—because, in his words, he is always open.
