It's been a while since A.J. Brown was the Philadelphia Eagles' primary playmaker. Saquon Barkley's arrival last season changed that, and Brown wasn't that involved in the passing game down the stretch in their Super Bowl-winning campaign. Fast forward to Week 13, when it's DeVonta Smith who leads the Eagles in targets (78), catches (55), and receiving yards (754).
Brown has been quite vocal about his up-and-down role throughout the 2025 season. From passive-aggressive shots to literally talking about not being involved, he's made sure to let everybody know that he's not happy with just winning. He wants to contribute.
That's why some fans have been a little surprised by his recent attitude shift. Following some incendiary comments online and to the media, the Eagles' stud playmaker now seems more calm and in control, as shown by John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
AJ Brown's Attitude Suddenly Shifts in Week 13
According to Clark on Wednesday, "Brown says he is confident the Eagles will respond this week after a devastating loss in Dallas," and that he knows his teammates "want to be better and they are accountable.
'We’ve got guys that want to be better. Guys that put it on themselves,'” Brown said via Clark.
Brown made the rounds for reportedly having a heart-to-heart meeting with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie during practice earlier this month, per ESPN. They even hugged it off. While it's great to see that Brown's attitude has seemingly flipped since then, the timing of his comments might not be coincidental.
AJ Brown's Latest Performance Might Factor Into Surprising Comments
Brown's newfound outlook is coming after he had eight receptions on ten targets for 110 yards and one touchdown in the loss against the Cowboys. He was pretty close to getting another touchdown, but it was overturned, and the Eagles made sure to keep him involved early and often.
Brown made it loud and clear that he wasn't happy with being a passenger. Even if the team was winning games and beating good teams, he wasn't happy because he wasn't getting his touches. So, maybe this attitude shift doesn't have anything to do with that talk. Maybe he's just happy that he had his numbers and his highlights, regardless of how his team fared.
That was his most receptions and second-most receiving yards this season, and for a player who has already been to the mountaintop and gotten a taste of the ultimate glory, winning might not be his main motivation at this point in his career.
Whatever the case, Brown has to be a professional. It doesn't matter how he feels; he has to put his head down and continue to push for a common goal. If he's still not happy with the way he's being used, he can try to force his way out of the team in the offseason.
So far, Brown is up to 46 receptions on 75 targets for 567 yards and four touchdowns, which is far below expectations. Even if he isn't happy with offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo's planning, it's at the point where Brown can't blame anyone but himself for how he finishes the season.
In an ideal world, Brown will lead by example and help the Eagles make a strong push for another Super Bowl title. Time will tell if that can become a reality down the stretch.