In Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles expected more from AJ Brown. Instead, the numbers told a different story. “You know, that’s not something I can control. What I can control is my effort for when the ball does come my way,” Brown said postgame, after the Eagles’ 24-20 win. He spent most of the afternoon on the margins—targeted just once, finishing with a single catch for eight yards. And this hits because Brown has topped 1,000 yards in each of his first four NFL seasons, including both years with the Eagles.

So, former NFL receiver James Jones didn’t hold back on the Speakeasy talk show, suggesting Philly could soon move on from Brown. “Let me tell y’all something. You will not see AJ Brown in an Eagles uniform for too much longer. As a receiver, you want to be involved; you’re not a running back. So, for the fans and the people out there, you’re football. No matter how many football games you play, you’re always a little nervous before every game. Your football game does not start until you get hit, until you get a catch, and get tackled. If you don’t get a catch until the 4th quarter with five minutes or something left in the game, his game has never even started,” Jones said.

Through the game, Brown saw nearly full participation with 55 offensive snaps. His single catch came with 1:51 remaining in regulation, in a 2nd-and-11 situation. Jalen Hurts found him for eight yards, keeping alive the Eagles’ drive to seal the win. Before that moment, the ball never reached Brown, and defenders left him without a mark. No targets in the fourth quarter until that play. 

“He’s not even involved in the game. He ain’t even been tackled or hit. He’s not even ready to play a football game yet. Let me tell y’all something. You will not see AJ Brown in an Eagles uniform for too much,” Jones added.

Dallas’ defensive scheme, clearly focused on limiting Brown and DeVonta Smith. Trevon Diggs was limited on his return, but when he was there on the gridiron, he didn’t leave AJ’s side on 6 of the 9 coverage snaps. That sums the story. The Cowboys blanketed routes with tight coverage, forcing Hurts to read progressions instead of trusting top receivers. Hurts did more than just sling the ball. The Eagles threw for 152 yards without a touchdown, but Hurts dominated with 62 rushing yards and two scores. That helped compensate for limited receiver involvement.

“That’s life, that’s football.” Coaching revelation on AJ Brown’s quiet night

For a player who has been the centerpiece of every offense since his high school days. The absence would be a source of visible frustration. Yet in the Eagles’ locker room, Nick Sirianni made it a teaching moment. Sirianni highlighted Brown’s quiet stat line as an example of mental resilience. “What about that mental toughness by A.J. Brown? ‘OK, the ball hasn’t come to me in three quarters.’ That might be the first time that’s ever happened to him in his career as a football player because he’s such a good player, and you’re always trying to find ways to do that.”

He noted that Brown may have experienced his first career game going that long without involvement. To Sirianni, that rarity underscored the value of staying ready in the face of quiet stretches. He highlighted Brown’s late catch as proof of mental resilience, not just athletic ability. The team stressed that roles shift. Not every game requires the star receivers in leading roles. But when the moment is there, you have to make the play. Sirianni praised Brown for doing exactly that.

“And that was just a great example by one of our captains of, hey, it didn’t go exactly the way you wanted it to go or any of us envisioned it going. That’s life, that’s football. But when called upon and the ball did come your way, you made this huge play.” Sirianni added. As captain, Brown showed composure under pressure, signaling leadership by making the play when called.

“As a receiver, it is tough because you want to touch the ball and you want to feel like you contributed. That was tough, but I try to do a really good job of staying locked in and staying ready,” Brown said during an interview with Jordan Schultz. The Eagles have long preached adaptability as central to their identity. After Week 1, Sirianni framed Brown’s night as leadership revealed in less obvious ways. Inside the locker room, the message was clear: volume is not the only marker of value; readiness is.