Despite winning nine straight, including Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Panthers, there was some drama with the Philadelphia Eagles (11-2).
It started after Sunday’s game when wide receiver A.J. Brown appeared to be open on numerous occasions against the Panthers, but for whatever reason, he did not get the ball thrown his way.
Jalen Hurts finished the game throwing for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Brown and his fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith both had issues with the passing game, which they vocalized after the game.
The drama really blew up when Eagles DE Brandon Graham, who is out for the year with a torn triceps muscle, went on a local Philadelphia radio show and discussed the possible personal issues between Brown and Hurts, who are very good friends. In addition, Hurts is Brown’s daughter’s godfather.
“They was friends before this, but things have changed,” Graham said Monday. “I understand that because life happens, but it’s the business side that we have to make sure that we don’t let the personal get in the way of the business. And that’s what we gotta do better right now, because we know it’s an issue, everybody’s seeing some things. But we need to be able to talk things out as men. You know what I’m saying?”
Graham walked back those comments, but the damage was done.
On Wednesday, Hurts and Brown spoke to the media, and both clarified that they have no issues with each other.
Hurts: “We’re good, we’re good.“
Brown: “Me and Jalen are good.”
In addition, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni discussed Hurts and Brown.
“Let’s just talk about [QB] Jalen [Hurts] and [WR] A.J. [Brown],” he said. “I see them working to get better. I see them working to get better together. Whether that’s after an install meeting, where they gather right here and talk about how A.J. will run a route or how Jalen will read, all those different things. They spend so much time on that.
“I said this the other day; I think I probably said it on the radio. You guys get to see three hours every Sunday where emotions can play as high as they’re going to play. You get to see three hours of that. I get to see these guys every single day, how they go about their business and interact with each other. I get to see them after practice, working on routes together and talking.
“I know there were assumptions of things, which we get how that goes. I can only go off my personal experience of how these guys interact every single day. And these guys are locked in and focused on getting better and getting better together, so they’re on the same page to go and accomplish the things we want to accomplish. I witness that every single day.
“Like I said, all these places are talking. I know there will be a lot more questions on this. I can see guys getting in their seats, ready to ask me another question. But that’s what I witness every day.
“Very similar to when you asked me about my relationship with Jalen at the beginning of the year. All I can go off is what I see in my personal interactions. But I understand there are definitely questions that you guys are going to have based off the last couple days.”
Anytime you have the types of struggles that the Eagles had in the passing game with their weapons, there will be questions. Maybe the story is much to do about nothing, or maybe the issues between Brown and Hurts are real. At the end of the day, these two have had their most success in the NFL together, and both have long-term deals, so if there is an issue, they have to fix it.
The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles are built to win a Super Bowl, and anything short of that would be a disappointment.
When we look back at this moment, this could be the thing that brings the team together or the moment that separates them. Expect this moment to bring them together.
It’s time to focus on the Steelers (10-3), who the team hosts on Sunday.
