Tag: AJ Brown

Steelers corner rips officials after rough performance vs the Eagles

Joey Porter got literally pushed around by AJ Brown on Sunday.

There was plenty of blame to go around in the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Some of that blame falls on the Steelers secondary as Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts carved them up in the air to the tune of 290 passing yards. 110 of those yards went to wide receiver AJ Brown and it really felt like they were trying to prove a point against the secondary.

One Steelers player who decided to vent about the situation was cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Porter vented about the struggles he had with Brown and it sounded a little like sour grapes from the second-year star.

“The refs are letting him push off,” Porter lamented. “At the end of the day, that’s what it is on tape. He’s just throwing us, but he’s one of those guys where they aren’t going to call it.”

 

Porter went on to say he wasn’t making an excuse while doing just that. Porter is the Steelers top coverage player. It’s not a great look to have him complaining about the officials after an ugly loss.

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Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown want everybody to shut up about their relationship

Zip it.

Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown are okay and wish everyone would act like it.

Whatever beef the pair had is effectively over because after beating the Steelers, Hurts and Brown appeared seemingly irritated with the storylines swirling this week. Jalen made it a point to start his press conference with a spicy “Is this what you guys wanted to see?” line. Then, A.J. really drove the point home during his postgame availability.

When asked about the touchdown celebration he and Jalen broke out Sunday, the wide receiver did not hesitate to tell the media how he really felt. “That was our moment to tell everyone to shut up,” he explained. There you have it. Move along, folks—nothing to see here.

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Rams must prepare for massive challenge A.J. Brown presents

A.J. Brown’s NFL career has been nothing short of spectacular, making him a dangerous opponent for the Rams.

$96 million. That’s the amount of money the Eagles were willing to give AJ Brown for three years when they signed him to an extension this offseason.

Since his rookie season in 2019, Brown has had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has scored 46 touchdowns as both the Eagles and the Titans have experienced tremendous team success with Brown as their WR1.

In his three years in Tennessee, Brown helped the Titans make the playoffs every single year, including an appearance in the AFC Championship Game and the No. 1 seed in 2021. Derrick Henry led the league twice in rushing yards and rushing TDs with Brown on the roster and the Titans have yet to make the postseason since his departure.

The Eagles have also made the playoffs in every year that Brown has been on the roster including an NFC championship game. Since their trade for Brown, the Eagles have had a 33-11 record.

Brown’s strength, physicality and speed makes up the player but his results come from a deep desire to be the best the NFL has ever seen. He’s a Hall of Fame-caliber player that burns defenders if they don’t have safety help. He shreds defenses over the middle of the field, he wins 50-50 balls and he’s Jalen Hurts’ No. 1 receiving option.

I asked Eagles writer Mark Wilson about what makes Brown such a matchup nightmare for the Rams and he had this to say.

“Eagles’ success starts in the backfield, however, the presence of Brown on the outside poses a nightmare for the Rams secondary in a one-on-one matchup if the Rams are forced to stack the box. The Rams cannot afford to lose sight of Brown who has the ability to go deep and across the middle.”

With Saquan Barkley in the backfield and Brown on the outside, the Rams are going to witness the puzzle that Brown and Henry posed for three years with the Titans. Barkley is on pace for career-highs this season in almost every major statistical category.

How Chris Shula manages Brown will be examined but if he finds a way to shut down the star wideout, he could elevate himself in the mindsets of general managers around the league.

Gimme Him: One player the Commanders would steal from the Eagles

The Commanders can retake the lead in the NFC East with a win over the Eagles, and there’s one player they’d love to steal from their rival.

The Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles will face off at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday in their first meeting in 2024. The Commanders already swept the Giants in divisional play and are set on doing the same with the Eagles.

The Eagles, however, will prove to be a more difficult task than the Giants. The 7-2 Eagles are 3-1 at home and took the top spot in the NFC East with the Commanders’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Commanders have an opportunity to re-take that top spot in the division, and with a head-to-head victory, they control their playoff destiny. While the Commanders’ offense has been strong this year, there is one player they would steal from the Eagles this week: Wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Think about it. If you put Brown on the opposite side of Terry McLaurin and have Jayden Daniels under center, plus Luke McCaffrey, Zach Ertz, and Austin Ekeler, this offense becomes practically unstoppable. McLaurin and Brown would be the top duo in the NFL, and very few teams could defend that tandem.

In six games this season, Brown has 28 receptions for 553 yards and three touchdowns. He has 23 first-down catches and averages over 19 yards per reception. He has battled a hamstring issue this season, which is why he missed games, but even with that injury, he’s a dynamic player whose athleticism keeps him on everyone’s radar.

The NFC East rivals face off at 8:15 pm EDT this Thursday.

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Is AJ Brown playing today? Injury news update for Eagles wide receiver

Here’s the latest status for the Eagles’ AJ Brown for Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles’ passing game has relied a great deal on one A.J. Brown over the last several seasons. In 2022, Brown 88 passes for 1,496 yards while scoring 11 touchdowns. He followed that up with 106 receptions in 2023, again approaching 1,500 receiving yards and adding another seven scores.

Things have not been that smooth for Brown thus far in 2024, and injuries are to blame. After missing four games early in the season with a hamstring injury, Brown has returned to diminishing returns. And then last week, Brown exited the club’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a knee injury he didn’t return from.

Will he be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10?

The answer appears to be yes. Brown was limited in practice on Wednesday but has been a full participant both Thursday and Friday and surprisingly carries no injury designation into the game.

All signs look like Brown will get another shot at playing against the Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs. The two did not get to face off against each other last season, as Diggs tore his ACL too early in the season to see Brown in Week 9 or Week 14. Back in 2022, Brown had 11 receptions on 16 targets in two contests against Diggs and company. Those 11 catches were good for 170 yards and a score.

Former Eagles linebacker on Jahan Dotson: ‘Return to sender’

A former Eagle and current radio host not impressed with Jahan Dotson.

People were shocked when the Washington Commanders traded 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson during training camp. It wasn’t as if Dotson had been lighting things up for the Commanders, but he did have a solid rookie season before struggling in 2023.

Of course, everybody in Washington struggled last season, So almost everyone expected Dotson to be a featured piece in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s new offense alongside Terry McLaurin. It was clear early in training camp that wasn’t happening.

Still, a trade? To a division rival, nonetheless? General manager Adam Peters didn’t care, preferring to get what he could and add more to Washington’s 2025 draft stash.

How is Dotson doing? In five games, Dotson has six receptions for 35 yards on 12 targets. Philadelphia acquired Dotson, hoping he could be the third wide receiver behind A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.

While early, the trade looks like a huge win for Peters.

This week, former Eagles linebacker Ike Reese, now a radio host on 94WIP in Philadelphia, joined “BMitch and Finlay” on 106.7 The Fan and discussed Dotson.

“I wanted to call you bro…return to sender!” Reese told Brian Mitchell, his former teammate with the Eagles, via Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “You know how you get a gift, and you’re like, ‘Okay, I thought this was a good gift, man; where is the return slip so I can send this gift back?’”

Ouch.

“Seriously, I shouldn’t be hard on Jahan, but I will say this, B: you kept it real with us,” Reese said. “You told us that there was just something there that ain’t clicking, and there is a sort of a ‘how bad do you want it, and how great do you want to be’ facet that could be missing from the young man.”

Reese discussed the overall state of the Eagles during his appearance, including head coach Nick Sirianni’s latest issues.

Dotson’s downfall is a surprise. While some believed he was a reach at 16th overall in 2022, he did have a solid rookie season with seven touchdown receptions.

No, the Seattle Seahawks should not trade DK Metcalf

No, the Seattle Seahawks should not trade DK Metcalf. Teams who trade away their generational wide receiver talents often regret it.

The Seattle Seahawks are currently suffering a three-game losing streak, and it with it, comes plenty of frustration. Frustration from the team, frustration from fans, the media, etc. And with frustration, often comes wondering what to do next. What can be done to fix this team? Not just in the short term, but in the long run as well.

It is painfully obvious this team still has considerable holes, especially along the offensive line yet again. Seattle is, once more, in dire need of an infusion of talent that might only come via draft capital. As such, there are those suggesting the best way to get said draft capital would be to trade wide receiver DK Metcalf.

To that I say… absolutely not.

I understand the arguments in favor. Metcalf is likely to be incredibly expensive by the time his next contract comes due. He’s an elite player who will almost assuredly net Seattle plenty of quality draft picks. And with those draft picks, at least one could be spent on drafting his replacement…

…except, what if you aren’t able to find it? I do not think those who advocate for trading Metcalf truly realize what a unicorn he is. His size, speed and strength is unrivaled. Teams who trade away their generational wide receiver talents often regret it.

Take for example the Tennessee Titans, who traded away Metcalf’s former Ole Miss teammate, AJ Brown, to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a first rounder. Philadelphia’s offense was taken to another level with Brown and it helped fuel a Super Bowl run. The Titans used their first rounder to draft Treylon Burks, who has 699 yards and one touchdown in his career.

He is now in his third season in the league.

Offense may be down overall in the NFL, but this is still a league where the rules tilt heavily in favor of that side of the ball. The need for a dynamic, elite receiver is more important than ever. Even teams that are successful find themselves at a disadvantage without one. Take the 4-2 Buffalo Bills. They are an AFC Super Bowl contender who traded away Stefon Diggs this year. What did they just do? Acquired Amari Cooper, because they had a need at receiver.

Seattle wants to play physical football, like Macdonald’s old team in Baltimore. But for all the winning the Ravens do, I believe everyone (including most Ravens fans) would agree one of their primary weaknesses is they are somewhat limited offensively. Why? Because they do not have consistent down the field threats at wide receiver for their MVP caliber quarterback.

No, Metcalf is not perfect. What player is? If you want to critique his hands, his penchant for fumbling, and route running at times, fine. Go ahead. If this conversation was happening last year, I would have added his temperament, but he has been a model citizen on the field this year. Incredible improvement for him, and he should be commended for it. But to willingly move on from a 26-year-old who has 45 career touchdowns and has only missed one game in his career? A player who is clearly on his way to becoming one of the best receivers in franchise history? I simply cannot get behind this take.

DK Metcalf is a phenomenal asset for Seattle, and the organization is best served by keeping No. 14 in a Seahawks uniform for as long as they can.

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Justin Jefferson expected to get a ‘market-altering’ deal

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Minnesota Vikings to sign star WR Justin Jefferson in the coming weeks.

The Vikings recently made a low-key major signing in recent days when Minnesota went out and signed guard Dalton Risner to a one-year deal. But that signing was exactly the signing Vikings fans have been waiting to hear.

Fans are patiently—or eagerly—waiting for the Vikings to sign star receiver Justin Jefferson to a long-term, mega-deal. According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings could make a deal with Jefferson in the near future. He says it will be a market-altering deal when it happens.

“This is going to be a market-altering deal when it does happen with Minnesota,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “I’m told the Vikings are pretty motivated here. They want to try to get something done, they’ve been in active discussions with Jefferson and his representation. So this could not only be making him the highest-paid wide receiver but the highest-paid non-quarterback, potentially. Nick Bosa makes $34 million a year, we’ll see if he can get to that threshold, but this should get done at some point in the coming weeks and months this summer, that’s the Vikings’ goal, so they’re pretty dedicated to doing it.”

Eagles’ receiver A.J. Brown is the highest-paid receiver in the game, making $32 million a year. 49ers’ defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league at $34 million a year. So you should expect $35 million or more when Jefferson does ink his new deal with the Vikings.

Ravens’ rookie CB Nate Wiggins has great NFL potential

Can the Baltimore Ravens turn rookie defensive back Nate Wiggins into an NFL tstar?

The Baltimore Ravens have a history of developing all-pro defensive players in the NFL. Hopefully, the team can bring the potential of rookie defensive back Nate Wiggins into full fruition

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With safety Geno Stone having departed to the Cincinnati Bengals and defensive back Ronald Darby signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Ravens need Wiggins to complement by playing the opposite side of defensive back Marlon Humphrey. Wiggins has the speed, youth, and length needed to compete at the NFL level but will need to hit the weight room as he prepares to face some very physical wide receivers in the NFL.

Wiggins had an exceptional NCAA season in 2024, producing 28 total tackles and six pass deflections. Wiggins’ slim build and huge wingspan allow him to play as a pest in jump ball situations. He is already fairly tall at six-foot-two and will get a chance to bulk up with the aid of the Ravens’ strength and conditioning staff.

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Wiggins should be motivated to play for a franchise known for having a history of defensive success. Wiggins will have all off-season to condition himself for play on the biggest stage of his young promising career this fall.

6 Commanders’ players who will benefit the most from a coaching change

These players will benefit from Washington’s coaching changes.

The Washington Commanders look a lot different now than they did one month ago. Sure, the roster hasn’t changed yet, but beginning with new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, Washington’s vision is beginning to take shape.

The day after Quinn’s hiring became official, we learned who would lead the Commanders’ offense and defense. Washington hired former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, while Joe Whitt Jr. followed Quinn from Dallas to be his defensive coordinator.

Quinn’s coordinator hirings drew praise from around the league.

From their responses on social media, some Washington players appear to be happy with the coaching moves.

We look at six players who will benefit the most from the coaching moves.