Jalen Hurts vs. A.J. Brown sideline fight: Eagles stars defend relationship, fire back at Donovan McNabb

2023-10-22
6 min read
(Getty Images)

Even the strongest relationships can hit a few bumps in the road. Look no further than the "City of Brotherly Love."

During the Eagles' Week 2 win over the Vikings, quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown could be seen arguing on the sideline. It's unclear what exactly caused the clash, but it became heated enough that Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni decided to step in between his offensive stars.

Only adding to the drama, former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb offered some comments on the spat that Brown didn't seem to appreciate.

Here's a breakdown of the situation and how Philly is attempting to move forward as it pursues another Super Bowl berth.

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Jalen Hurts vs. A.J. Brown sideline fight

In the second half of that Week 2 contest, Hurts and Brown had a rather animated conversation despite the fact that the Eagles were holding a double-digit lead over the Vikings.

Sirianni attempted to play the role of a mediator, speaking to Brown as Hurts walked away.

After a 34-28 victory in which he accounted for 228 yards of offense and three touchdowns, Hurts brushed off any concerns about the sideline squabble.

"I think everybody wants to make plays, and everybody wants to contribute," Hurts said. "I have no worry about [Brown]. He's a great player, a great teammate, a great friend, and we'll do anything and everything to win."

There was speculation that Brown was frustrated with his usage because he only had four catches for 29 yards. However, Brown, who didn't speak to reporters following the game, later clarified that the discussion with Hurts wasn't about targets.

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"This is a game that we both love, and I want everybody to understand that sometimes emotions run high," Brown said. "That doesn't mean it's the end of the world. That doesn't mean I'm beefing with Jalen. ...

"I know everybody took that out of context, but it's not a big deal. Me and him are still on the same page. We're still growing. We're still trying to become great and get wins most importantly."

A.J. Brown fires back at Donovan McNabb

Apparently McNabb didn't buy Brown's explanation.

In a recent interview on 94WIP Sports Radio, the six-time Pro Bowler expressed concerns about Philadelphia's offense changing after that incident, saying that unit has been "so inconsistent each and every week."

"I go to that because I've seen it before. I understand it. I know as a quarterback you don't want to be involved in it," McNabb said. "But what I'm seeing is, I'm seeing offensive play calls are being more catered to try to feature instead of establishing a tempo and a consistency from running the football, play action game, quick game to be able to spread the ball around. DeVonta Smith, I don't care what nobody say, he ain't getting involved in this offense.

"It goes back to last year, the first year A.J. Brown got there. Maybe in the first four or five games, DeVonta Smith looked like he was the true number even with A.J. Brown, and A.J. Brown started getting more features. Now, it seems like we're featuring more of A.J. Brown and pulling away from the true run game."

It didn't take long for Brown to find those comments and issue a response. Brown tweeted that the duo had already "moved on" and expressed disappointment that a former Eagle would reignite the controversy.

Philadelphia may not be playing up to its lofty standards through the first six weeks of the season, but it still owns an elite offense. The Eagles rank second in the NFL in total yards per game (395.0) and fifth in points per game (25.8).

And Brown certainly doesn't need to be upset about his status at this stage of the season. He is among the top 10 receivers in the league in receptions, targets and receiving yards.

Perhaps there are sunnier days ahead in Philadelphia.