Even in victory, the Philadelphia Eagles can’t seem to escape the simmering frustrations of their star receiver, A.J. Brown. But after Brown’s latest comments sparked narratives about internal discord once again, offensive tackle Jordan Mailata blocked those questions with his own take on the matter.

“Whatever he says is on him, and as a teammate, I can understand his frustrations,” said Mailata. “But for me, I’m going to stay in my lane. As an offensive lineman, if we’re not getting the ball to him, how can I fix that?”

For Mailata, going up to offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and asking for more targets for Brown won’t contribute to anything. The solution would come from challenging the blockers to execute better. That subtle shift matters a lot.

Through eight games, Brown has 31 receptions on 54 targets. That’s barely over 6 targets per game. And in Week 10, he only got 3 targets, out of which he caught two. Compare that to his 2023 season, where he averaged over nine targets and touched secondaries for 1,400+ yards. The Eagles sit 7-2 atop the NFC East this season, but their passing attack has been subdued.

Mailata’s comments about Brown are leadership without noise. He gets it. The O-line creates pockets. Cleaner pockets mean more time for quarterback Jalen Hurts. More time means Brown’s routes develop. The math tracks. And while the locker room waits for this to translate to the field, Mailata has also defended Brown’s character.

“As well as I know AJ, that’s all he wants to do: contribute. We always talk about ‘contribution over credit.’ That’s where AJ is coming from. …He wants to feel like he contributed to the win.”

But contribution requires opportunities. This season, Brown has faced single coverage multiple times. And yet, Hurts has tried to make other plays instead of chucking the ball to his receiver. When defenses leave Brown one-on-one and the offense doesn’t capitalize, that’s when the frustration boils over. And if this trend continues, Brown will remain vocal, demanding targets, and airing his frustrations unapologetically.

A.J. Brown refuses to back down

While Jordan Mailata opted for a measured approach, A.J. Brown’s defiance reveals the tensions simmering beneath Philadelphia’s winning record. He recently appeared on a Twitch stream and called his current situation a “s*** show,” and urged fantasy owners to drop him. And when asked about his comments on the stream later, Brown made one thing crystal clear recently: no apologies are coming.

“It’s the same things I’ve been saying all season,” Brown explained. “So, me making light of my situation on Twitch with my friend, that’s something I’m not apologizing for. – That’s me trying to laugh through my situation.”

OC Kevin Patullo has notably shifted targets toward Dallas Goedert this season, who has seven touchdowns already, compared to just 2 last season. Brown, with just 3 touchdowns on the season, ranks as fantasy’s WR39. As Brown puts it, he just wants to add his weight to the table, so it tips in his team’s favor.

“We have to adapt, and we have to continue to get better and find new ways,” noted Brown. “That’s where the frustration comes in. Because it’s not about winning. I want to win, yes. I want to help contribute as well. Do our thing on offense as well. I think that’s fair.”

A.J. Brown is sticking to his guns, determined to make his voice heard and demand more targets. But Philly now faces a crossroads. Jordan Mailata and the offensive line have committed to their part. Their next clash with the Detroit Lions will reveal whether these commitments translate to action and more targets.