The Philadelphia Eagles locker room is buzzing with tension, and much of the chatter stems from wide receiver AJ Brown’s recent cryptic comments and social media posts. In the middle of it all is quarterback Jalen Hurts, with reports that several players are “frustrated” with his style of play. But, surprisingly, Brown declined to discuss those frustrations directly.

As the Iggles prepare to play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, the wide receiver faced questions about reports of frustration among offensive players. Brown smiled but shook his head from left to right as a no, saying, “Ask me about Dallas.”

The root of Brown’s growing frustration seems tied to how the offense’s focus has shifted. Since joining the Eagles in 2022, Brown has been a favored target for QB Hurts. He earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections and even an AP MVP nod in 2022 after posting over 1,400 receiving yards in both 2022 and 2023.

This season, the passing game has funneled more red-zone and chain-moving work to Dallas Goedert, which has dipped the big-play volume for Brown, even though he still leads the team with 457 receiving yards to Goedert’s 356.

Another consistent Hurts target since 2021, DeVonta Smith, also factors into the distribution of targets. And all this leaves Brown feeling overlooked despite his proven capabilities. 

Regardless of all this tension, when Brown was asked about the team’s progress on the offensive side, he emphasized a mindset of improvement.

“I think we are [close to clicking]. That’s the mindset we should have,” Brown said. “It’s really just cleaning up those mistakes. Defense has been playing incredibly. Just trying to do our part. That starts with the things that take more time.”

Still, his measured reply about focusing on Dallas contrasts sharply with the emotional tones he has expressed elsewhere. And it pops up a question: Why is Brown holding back now?

AJ Brown’s talk with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie

The turmoil within the team had escalated enough to prompt an unusual meeting between wide receiver A.J. Brown and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. This meeting took place during a Thursday practice and was arranged by Dom DiSandro, the Eagles’ chief security officer.

ESPN reporter Sal Paolantonio revealed that Brown, described as “disgruntled,” met privately with Lurie. During the meeting, Brown pledged to the owner to reduce his social media references concerning the team’s offense, essentially, to tone it down. Paolantonio noted that it was a very amicable discussion.

Lurie emphasized that Brown did not need to apologize but stressed the importance of unity and professionalism. He sealed the discussion with a hug before Brown returned to practice. This intervention from the owner highlights the team’s commitment to maintaining harmony as they aim to sustain their Super Bowl-caliber performance.

With only a few weeks remaining before the playoffs, it is crucial to get everyone on the same page. Brown has acknowledged the value of last year’s championship run but has expressed frustration over the defense consistently carrying the offense, despite the talented roster. He remains a key player, but only if the drama settles and the offense starts functioning cohesively again.