Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was recently asked about the limited touches for wide receiver A.J. Brown, following the team’s Monday night game against the Green Bay Packers. According to Bleeding Green Nation reporter Brandon Lee Gowton, Brown recorded just two catches for 13 yards on three targets in that game. This marked Brown’s third game of the season with two or fewer receptions, yet the Eagles have won all those games.
Sirianni pointed to the defensive schemes and the overall flow of the game as factors that limited Brown’s opportunities. “If you look at the game and how it went, there are a lot of plays that are going to him that, for different reasons, don’t connect,” Sirianni explained. “For instance, [DeVonta Smith] Smitty’s touchdown — that is a play going to A.J. The Packers took it away, and [Jalen Hurts] threw the ball away.”
Despite the low statistical output in some games, Sirianni believes stats don’t fully capture Brown’s impact on the offense. “You can’t look at stats and just say ‘this is happening,’” he said. “A.J. Brown is one of the best receivers in the league, so of course, we try 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.”
As questions about Brown’s role continued, Sirianni appeared eager to move past the topic. “I’m close to being done answering questions about this,” he stated, as reported by The Athletic’s Zach Berman. “He’s working hard, 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’s here. I’m excited to have him.”
Brown has posted impressive performances this season, including 10 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Rams, and six catches for 121 yards against the Vikings. Overall, he has 31 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns.
However, Brown has expressed frustration over his usage this season. On October 21, he shared a photo on Instagram with the caption, “Using me but not using me.” Earlier that month, after a two-catch game against the Buccaneers, Brown posted a cryptic message on social media: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
Brown later addressed the message during a media session, saying, “Obviously, Sunday after the game I let my frustrations boil over. I didn’t speak to the media. I had a chance to correct my frustrations, and I continue to let them boil over, and that’s on me. I take full accountability on that. My message on Twitter wasn’t directed at anyone in the building, not my coaches, not my quarterback, my GM, nobody. I take full accountability.”
In the game following that post, Brown had five catches for 43 receiving yards on eight targets, continuing to contribute to the Eagles’ offense as the season progresses.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/eagles-nick-sirianni-addresses-aj-browns-lack-of-targets-after-the-packers-game-201552943.html
