Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 5 loss against the Denver Broncos, star quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley had a conversation with veteran wideout AJ Brown. While both Barkley and Hurts confirmed this to the media when asked about it after their Week 6 loss against the New York Giants, Brown noted that he didn’t “recall” any meeting between them. That statement sparked a lot of debates and questions, but Brown has cleared the air on it at last.

Taking to his X handle, Brown posted the following clarification: “Just to clear this up. That wasn’t a meeting or a sit-down. I said “I don’t recall” because it got painted like there was tension and Sa had to step in. That’s not true. I was walking to my car, saw them, and stopped to talk. Nothing more.”

This correction cut through the swirling narratives around Brown and the Eagles’ locker room. The Eagles’ offense, led by Jalen Hurts, has struggled to click in big moments this season. In the middle of all that, misreported “meetings” can sow doubt inside and outside the locker room. Brown’s statement tries to steer the narrative back to football, away from drama. And it’s something both Barkley and Hurts have tried to do recently as well.

As Saquon Barkley noted in an interview on October 7: “I felt like that conversation was meant to stay between us, but the focus was all about the team, and I think it was a good thing. I would definitely say it wasn’t like a players’ meeting. … When you hear ‘players’ meeting,’ that’s like all hell’s breaking loose. It wasn’t that at all. But also that we’re teammates, we’re all friends, we’re just having a conversation.”

Jalen Hurts also had a similar approach, noting that they spoke about the team’s vision for winning. “It’s just us talking about the collective, talking about taking ownership for what we can and talking about how we move forward as a team so we continue to find ways to win games.”

But is everything really okay within the Eagles’ locker room? The misunderstanding blew up after Brown expressed frustration with his reduced role and Philly’s offensive struggles. Analysts read into his cryptic posts, fueling rumors that the team’s chemistry was cracked. And the way Brown’s production has dipped (along with the rest of the Eagles’ squad) continues to be a cause for concern.

Philly’s struggles and the tension between AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts

As AJ Brown fired off a cryptic post after their Week 4 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the narratives began. In that game, Brown could only haul in 2 targets out of 9 for just 7 yards. Analysts and insiders believed Philly would make the story go away by handing Brown more of the spotlight. But so far, the numbers have remained the same.

Week 5 saw Brown getting eight targets. He hauled in five of those for 43 yards. Against the Giants, Brown made six out of nine receptions for 80 yards. But now heading into Week 7, Brown still has just one touchdown in his name. Insiders say things between Brown and Hurts are strained. The two aren’t as tight as before. Hurts hasn’t been sharp connecting with Brown, missing key plays.

A glaring example of this came in Week 5 when Brown was wide open for a touchdown but wasn’t targeted. Despite the players’ public professionalism, the offense’s highlighted missteps continue to feed speculation of a rift.

AJ Brown’s latest clarification calms some of the drama. But the bigger picture still remains. The Eagles are now facing a crucial stretch with injuries, inconsistent plays, and a two-game losing streak. How the team realigns its synergy and moves forward will determine how the Eagles fare this season.