Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni addressed the ongoing A.J. Brown drama on Wednesday, placing some of the blame on the media for fueling the narrative.
“I’m close to being done answering these questions with this,” Sirianni said. “He’s working hard and he is a big part of this game plan, and he’ll be a big part of the game plan going forward. He’s working like crazy when he is here and I’m excited to have him.”
Brown, a generational talent, was targeted just three times in Monday night’s 10-7 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The following day, the star receiver expressed his frustration during a Madden video game stream, calling his role in the Philadelphia offense a “s- show.” He even advised fantasy football owners to consider dropping him, suggesting he isn’t getting enough opportunities on the field.
Sirianni defended Brown’s role, noting that the raw stats didn’t tell the full story.
“If you look at the game and how the game went, there are a lot of plays in that game that are going to him that for different reasons don’t,” Sirianni explained. “For instance, (WR DeVonta Smith) Smitty’s touchdown, that play is going to A.J. They took it away, and (QB Jalen Hurts) threw it over the top.”
“You can’t just look at stats,” Sirianni added. “You can’t paint the picture that way. I know that sometimes is all the information that you guys may have, but you can’t look at it that way and just say, ‘Here’s how the game is playing out.’ There are reasons and different things.”
“A.J. Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, so of course we’re trying to get him involved in the game every single time. Sometimes it goes like it did in the Rams game or the Vikings game and sometimes it goes like it did in this last game.”
Indeed, Brown had an impressive showing in earlier games, catching 10 passes on 16 targets for 230 yards and three touchdowns in matchups against the Rams and Vikings in Weeks 3 and 7.
On Wednesday evening, Brown spoke candidly about his frustrations during a locker room media session at the NovaCare Complex.
“It’s not solely about my situation,” Brown said. “Obviously, I want to win, too. I think if we’re really focusing on winning and doing our job, we can’t just keep slapping the band-aid over the defense doing their job and getting us out of trouble.”
“At what point are we going to pick up our slack as an offense? We’re so great, you know? That’s what I’m getting at. It’s not about I don’t care about winning and all I care about is stats. No. It’s been, week after week sometimes, we’re not contributing, we’re not doing our job on offense. You can’t just keep slapping the band-aid over that.”
“You expect to win late in the year and you think you can go to it at the end of the year, it’s not going to f-ing happen. It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen. Last year is what it was. Thanks for the ring. But it’s a new season. We have to adapt. We have to continue to get better, to find new ways. That’s where the frustration comes in. It’s not about winning, you guys. I want to win, yes. I want to help contribute to it as well. Do our thing on offense as well. I think that’s fair.”
Brown’s talent is unquestioned, yet the Eagles offense has often failed to maximize his potential as a dynamic weapon. Instead of featuring him heavily, he’s frequently utilized as a blocker or decoy and seldom sees the ball. Considering how receivers like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, or Brandon Marshall might react in similar situations, Brown’s measured responses, including his social-media posts and occasional comments, could be seen as commendable restraint.
Of course, context matters, as Sirianni pointed out — sometimes targets don’t come due to defensive adjustments or game flow. Still, three targets in a game raise questions.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles currently sport a strong 7-2 record — and that’s what ultimately matters most. Sirianni is an impressive 5-0 after bye weeks, and the Birds’ defense looked outstanding in Green Bay.
However, the offense, which had been clicking for two weeks prior to the break, stalled at Lambeau Field. Credit goes to the Packers’ defense, which frequently limited separation for Philadelphia’s receivers. But how long can Brown remain fully engaged when his immense talents appear underused?
“I don’t care if I’m misunderstood,” Brown said. “I’ll stand up in front of there and fall on that sword over and over again. It’s about doing what we’re supposed to be doing on offense. If we are really in this business to try and get better, we gotta do what we gotta do and not just say, ‘Oh, it’s about wins. As long as you got the win, it’s cool.’ No. You cannot do that. Not in this league. You gotta continue to get better. We gotta do what we have to do on offense to help the defense, to help the special teams.”
If the season ended today, the Eagles would hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which suggests some criticisms may be overblown nitpicking, especially given injuries along the offensive line.
Still, the offense’s inconsistency is a fair concern as the team looks ahead to the postseason.
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### Alexander Gone for Good?
On a related note, it appears cornerback Jaire Alexander’s stepping away from football may be long-term or even permanent, based on Sirianni’s comments Wednesday.
“I think (he’s) getting away for his health,” Sirianni said. “I respect that. I really enjoyed my short time with him and wish him the best.”
The Eagles acquired Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the trade deadline, but he has been dealing with physical and mental hygiene issues in recent months.
Sirianni added, “We were just really excited to get him in here, and again, just know that he’s stepping away for health reasons. Like I said, just wish him the best.”
For the latest updates, follow @the_defranc.
https://www.mcall.com/2025/11/12/a-j-browns-frustrations-boil-over-as-eagles-offense-sputters-again/
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