Eagles Star A.J. Brown Sends Strong Message on 1-Catch Game: ‘Excited for Week 2’
Eagles Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown insists he isn't bothered by his quiet performance in Week 1.
A.J. Brown isn’t sweating his quiet Week 1 performance.
The star receiver was targeted just once in the Eagles’ 24-20 win over the Cowboys, hauling in an 8-yard pass from Jalen Hurts with just under two minutes remaining.
With a Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs on tap for Sunday in Kansas City (4:25 p.m. ET), Brown sounds ready to turn the page.
“I got zoned the entire game. I didn’t get one single man (coverage) rep,” Brown told NFL insider Jordan Schultz of “The Schultz Report.” “Obviously, there won’t be any separation. I’m not hurt and I won’t be a decoy. It’s just kind of how the game went.
“Just know I’m excited for Week 2.”
Brown Downplays Lack of Targets
Hurts attempted only 23 passes against Dallas, spreading the ball to six different targets. Tight end Dallas Goedert had a team-high seven catches for 44 yards, and running back Saquon Barkley had four catches for 24 yards. Aside from Brown, Jahan Dotson (three catches, 59 yards) and DeVonta Smith (three catches, 19 yards) were the only receivers to record a catch.
“You know, it’s not that’s not something I can control,” Brown said postgame, via Penn Live. “What I can control is my effort for when the ball does come my way.”
It marked just the fourth time in Brown’s Eagles tenure with only one catch. The last instance came in last season’s NFC wild-card victory over the Packers, when he had one catch on three targets for 10 yards.
While Brown’s lack of production may make for good radio fodder, head coach Nick Sirianni isn’t concerned. He insists it’s merely happenstance.
“When we talk about roles, I tell (our receivers), there’s going to be games like this,” Siranni said in his postgame press conference. “This is going to happen. To be what we want to be, A.J.’s obviously gonna have to be more involved in the offense. But some games go this way.
“I get that’ll be a story, but there are games that go this way.”
Super Bowl Rematch on Tap in Week 2
Brown, 28, has tried to ignore the chatter on social media about his stat line.
He told The Schultz Report: “I’ve seen a lot of stuff on the internet — ‘I had zero separation, I’m hurt, I’m a decoy’ — which is crazy because none of those things are true.”
The three-time Pro Bowler will look to rebound in Week 2 against the Chiefs, whose defense was picked apart by the Chargers in a 27-21 loss to open the season. Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Quentin Johnston.
In the Super Bowl LIX victory over the Chiefs in February, Brown caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Chase Young remains out of practice with a calf injury
Saints defensive end Chase Young remained out of practice Thursday, which doesn’t bode well for his availability for Sunday.
Young hurt his calf in the Sept. 3 practice and sat out last Thursday and Friday before being inactive for the season opener.
Young played all 17 games last season.
Offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis after missing Wednesday’s work. Long snapper Zach Wood (elbow) was downgraded to a non-participant after limited work a day earlier.
The rest of the team’s injury report remained the same with offensive lineman Trevor Penning (toe) and safety Julian Blackmon (shoulder) still out; running back Velus Jones (knee) again limited; and safety Jordan Howden (oblique) a full participant for the second day in a row.
