A.J. Brown's Struggling Season Sparks Concern Over His Elite Status
The Philadelphia Eagles' star wide receiver, A.J. Brown, has had a tumultuous 2025 season, with more drama surrounding him off the field than his on-field performance. With only 31 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns through the first nine games, Brown's numbers are alarming, especially considering he's not getting the targets he used to.
The main reason for Brown's struggles is the limited target share. He's averaging just 6.8 targets per game, far below that of other elite receivers in the league. Fans, media, and even Brown himself have blamed various circumstances around him, including the offense's scheme, play-calling, and opposing defenses. However, there's a more pressing concern – the possibility that Brown is in decline.
Brown's numbers when the ball actually comes his way are particularly concerning. He's on pace for career lows in yards per reception (13.2), yards per target (7.6), completion percentage on targets (57.4%), and average yards after the catch (3.3). In contrast, his teammate DeVonta Smith is having a better season, with career-highs in several categories.
Brown's separation from defenders has been an issue this season. He's able to win against man coverage, but when faced with zone coverages, opposing defenses are clearly shading him out of plays. His lack of separation against man coverage, especially compared to previous seasons, is more concerning. He's also compensating for it by pushing off on defenders, a tactic he's used more subtly in the past.
The yards after the catch have been non-existent for Brown this season. His inability to break away from defenders and gobble up extra yards has arguably been his best trait over his career. It's not just about Brown's physical abilities; it's also about his mental approach to the game. A receiver accustomed to greatness, like Brown, should be able to make plays in clutch situations.
While it's still too early to say that Brown is in decline based on a small sample size of games played, his individual play can and should be better than what he's been showing this season. The Eagles' coaching staff has never complained about his performance, but if they have any issues, now might be the time to address them.
The team's passing offense has sputtered for chunks of the season, with occasional glimmers of hope. Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo need to figure out how to more effectively beat zone coverages that have frustrated the offense all season. Could Jalen Hurts see the field better at times and get the ball to Brown in situations where he's open? These are questions that need answering, especially if the Eagles want to make a deep playoff run.
For now, it's worth watching how Brown adapts to his role on the team and whether he can rediscover his elite form.
The Philadelphia Eagles' star wide receiver, A.J. Brown, has had a tumultuous 2025 season, with more drama surrounding him off the field than his on-field performance. With only 31 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns through the first nine games, Brown's numbers are alarming, especially considering he's not getting the targets he used to.
The main reason for Brown's struggles is the limited target share. He's averaging just 6.8 targets per game, far below that of other elite receivers in the league. Fans, media, and even Brown himself have blamed various circumstances around him, including the offense's scheme, play-calling, and opposing defenses. However, there's a more pressing concern – the possibility that Brown is in decline.
Brown's numbers when the ball actually comes his way are particularly concerning. He's on pace for career lows in yards per reception (13.2), yards per target (7.6), completion percentage on targets (57.4%), and average yards after the catch (3.3). In contrast, his teammate DeVonta Smith is having a better season, with career-highs in several categories.
Brown's separation from defenders has been an issue this season. He's able to win against man coverage, but when faced with zone coverages, opposing defenses are clearly shading him out of plays. His lack of separation against man coverage, especially compared to previous seasons, is more concerning. He's also compensating for it by pushing off on defenders, a tactic he's used more subtly in the past.
The yards after the catch have been non-existent for Brown this season. His inability to break away from defenders and gobble up extra yards has arguably been his best trait over his career. It's not just about Brown's physical abilities; it's also about his mental approach to the game. A receiver accustomed to greatness, like Brown, should be able to make plays in clutch situations.
While it's still too early to say that Brown is in decline based on a small sample size of games played, his individual play can and should be better than what he's been showing this season. The Eagles' coaching staff has never complained about his performance, but if they have any issues, now might be the time to address them.
The team's passing offense has sputtered for chunks of the season, with occasional glimmers of hope. Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo need to figure out how to more effectively beat zone coverages that have frustrated the offense all season. Could Jalen Hurts see the field better at times and get the ball to Brown in situations where he's open? These are questions that need answering, especially if the Eagles want to make a deep playoff run.
For now, it's worth watching how Brown adapts to his role on the team and whether he can rediscover his elite form.
A.J. Brown's struggles have me worried 
. His targets are down and when he gets 'em, he's not making plays 
like he used to 
. Zone coverages are killing him 
and his separation skills are lacking 
. It's not just about the physical game; it's mental too 
. He needs to step up and make clutch plays 
. The Eagles need to figure out how to get the ball to him in open situations 
️ Only time will tell 
️ his yards after the catch are basically non existent and that's a huge part of what made him elite in the first place 
i think the eagles need to mix up their playcalling and get jalen hurts more involved, maybe that'll help loosen brown up a bit 
. It's clear that the Eagles' coaching staff has been too lenient on him, letting his subpar performance slide 
. The fact that DeVonta Smith is having a better season than Brown is just salt in the wound 
. The team needs to figure out how to beat zone coverages and get the ball to their top receiver in better situations 
. Jalen Hurts needs to get him the ball in situations where he's open 
. And if Brown is really struggling with his separation from defenders, do they even have someone who can create separation for him? 
. But if I'm being honest, I'd love to see the Eagles make some changes to their offense to get him back on track 
I'm not buying the "decline" narrative just yet... 31 catches in 9 games ain't that bad for a guy who used to average more per game 
We need a better balance between our receivers and our offense to really make some noise in the playoffs.
It seems like they're playing too safe all the time. Brown needs to be getting more opportunities, not just when he's open (which is rare this season). I'm rooting for him, but someone's gotta keep an eye on the coaching staff to make sure they're giving our star receiver the help he needs 
.
like, where was this level of concern when he was putting up 100+ yards per game last year? it seems like the media and fans are looking for an excuse to justify his underperformance 
i mean, is it really that hard to see what's going on here? he's not getting the targets, he's not making plays after the catch... it's a numbers game, folks 
i think its time for nick sirianni and kevin patullo to shake things up on offense. maybe jalen hurts can just see the field more often and get the ball to browns when hes open 
devoonta smith is having a way better season than brown and hes not even getting as many targets lol 
. Is Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo just being overly cautious with their play-calling, or is there something deeper going on here? Can Jalen Hurts make a difference by getting him the ball in situations where he's open 