A.J. Brown had one of the strangest Week 1 performances you’ll ever see from a star wide receiver. For almost the entire game, it was like he wasn’t even on the field. The Philadelphia Eagles’ top wideout didn’t get a single target until the final two minutes, when Jalen Hurts finally connected with him for a short eight-yard gain. Without that late throw, it would have been the first time in his career he went a whole game without a target.
The no-show has left Eagles fans and fantasy football managers scratching their heads. Even dating back to the end of last season, Brown’s production has been inconsistent outside of his big NFC Championship outing. With the Eagles set to face the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch this Sunday, the question is obvious: will things be different?
The good news for Philly is that Brown will be out there, and the coaching staff says they plan to get him much more involved. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo explained on Tuesday that the lack of looks for Brown wasn’t by design. He stressed that the team had plays drawn up for him, but the way the game unfolded against the Cowboys led to other options being used.
“When you game plan, obviously the number one guy is going to be A.J.,” Patullo said. “We had a fair share of things that were going to go to him as the primary, and sometimes games just play out like that. We don’t ever want to force it. If you’re productive and moving the ball, you just let it roll.”
Head coach Nick Sirianni also praised Brown for staying locked in despite not seeing the ball. That late eight-yard catch helped keep the drive alive, setting up another first down on the next play. It was a small moment, but it showed his impact even on an off day.
For fantasy players, there’s reason to stay optimistic. The Chiefs’ secondary just gave up big games to all three Chargers wideouts last week. Rookie Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and veteran Keenan Allen all found success against Kansas City’s defense. Johnston even scored twice, and Brown is a much bigger and stronger version of him.
In other words, Week 1 might have been a blip. If the Eagles truly make Brown the focal point again, as they say they will, a bounce-back performance could be coming quickly, and against one of the NFL’s most high-profile opponents.