Sure, the Philadelphia Eagles are sitting at the top of the NFC East with four wins, but those two losses? They hurt. Mostly because of how they lost with a Super Bowl-winning roster. Of all the issues, the Eagles’ most concerning issue is that Jalen Hurts isn’t getting the ball to his receivers. And former Bengals WR TJ Houshmandzadeh didn’t hold back when talking about it. Houshmandzadeh believes Hurts deserves a chunk of the blame for AJ Brown’s quiet start.

“You’re throwing them stop routes in the cloud coverage,” TJ said while blaming the Philadelphia QB. “You don’t do that. Part of that is Jalen Hurts. You got to make it your mission to get your receivers the ball. And it’s not just AJ Brown, you gotta get Smitty the ball as well.”

Well, TJ may not be wrong. AJ Brown’s drop-off didn’t come out of nowhere. So far, he’s got 25 catches for 274 yards and just one touchdown, averaging a career-low 11 yards per reception. But here’s the thing: Hurts has only targeted him 45 times.

Remember, Brown topped 1,000 yards last year even while fighting through a hamstring injury. In both 2022 and 2023, he was among the NFL’s top wideouts. He racked up over 1,400 yards and at least 88 catches each year. You don’t just forget how to play like that overnight. As Houshmandzadeh pointed out, this feels a lot more like a quarterback problem than a receiver one.

Hurts currently holds a 75.7 impact score from Pro Football Stat Network, ranking 19th among quarterbacks. But it’s not just the numbers. He’s been struggling with his reads, getting stuck on his first option, and failing to adjust when defenses disguise coverages.

Sure, his mobility still makes him dangerous. But DCs are catching on, forcing him to beat them from the pocket. And that’s where things have fallen apart. The offense just hasn’t found its rhythm, and it’s hurting everyone involved, including Brown. And if the Eagles’ WR does end up leaving, Houshmandzadeh knows where he should head next.

AJ Brown’s potential landing spots

All that tension has naturally sparked trade chatter, and AJ Brown’s name is right in the middle of it. He’s reportedly unhappy with his role in Nick Sirianni’s offense. “Main issues? self-inflicted wounds. Sometimes, just a lack of execution at the wrong time, you know,” he said earlier.

If things don’t get better soon, Brown might be the one asking for a move before the trade deadline. But Houshmandzadeh already has a couple of destinations in mind if it comes to that.

“Ship him to one of two teams. Buffalo, New England. If they get AJ Brown, both of those teams are extremely strong, ready to compete for a Super Bowl. But if the Eagles are smart, they’ve got to get them the ball. AJ is a hell of a player,” he added.

A move to New England would actually make a lot of sense. They’ve got a young quarterback in Drake Maye on a rookie contract, and they desperately need a proven No. 1 wideout. Meanwhile, Stefon Diggs has been solid, but he’s pushing 32 and coming off a big knee injury last year.

Pairing AJ Brown with Maye could accelerate the Patriots’ rebuild. And of course, they’ve got an extra fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft to sweeten any deal. Then there’s Buffalo. While they’ve got an MVP QB in Josh Allen, they’re still missing that dominant wide receiver who can take over a game and stretch defenses consistently. Adding Brown could give them that.

Do you agree with TJ Houshmandzadeh’s wild take and send Brown somewhere else, or do you want AJ to give another shot and pair him with Hurts?