Jalen Hurts Chooses to be Diplomatic While Addressing AJ Brown Rift Tumors

Jalen Hurts says he has spoken with AJ Brown since the end of the 2025-26 season.

Jalen Hurts Chooses to be Diplomatic While Addressing AJ Brown Rift Tumors

AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

Who says Jalen Hurts isn’t funny? When reporters questioned Hurts about his Philadelphia Eagles teammate and wide receiver, AJ Brown, the Pro Bowl quarterback gave a very cheeky reply.

Hurts picked up a water bottle from under the podium and took a sip just as the reporter started asking about Brown.

Picked the right question to sip on.

Hurts cracked a rare smile

It’s a good way to lighten the mood, given the gravity of the subject. And it turned out to be a good segue for Hurts to address his relationship with Brown.

I think for us, we’re focused on learning the offense. It really doesn’t change in terms of our approach to improve. There’s an if. Obviously, it’s been a lingering thing. But nothing can replace all the greatness that we achieved together.

Jalen Hurts said

Learning the offense is the need of the hour for the Eagles after they hired a new face as offensive coordinator this year.

Hurts and Brown have together won many games for the Eagles. They’ve dominated the NFC East, have played in two Super Bowls, winning the final in 2024-25.

However, a visible rift has formed between them in the last couple of years. With the Eagles adapting a more run-heavy game, Brown has mostly been a spectator, seeing Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby snatching all the glory. And when the Eagles do throw the football, the pass more often than not doesn’t travel to Brown’s direction.

Brown requested a trade to another team midway through last year. General Manager Howie Roseman blocked him from leaving Philly. The Eagles won the division once again, but got thrashed in the wildcard round by the San Francisco 49ers.

Brown finished the regular season with 78 receptions for 1003 yards and 7 touchdowns. It’s his worst season in terms of numbers.

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Jalen Hurts champions his camaraderie with AJ Brown

Brown remains the hot favorite to leave with the June one deadline fast approaching. Despite the implications, the All-Pro wideout showed up for practice days after marrying his fiancée, an event that Hurts wasn’t allegedly invited to.

Jalen Hurts Chooses to be Diplomatic While Addressing AJ Brown Rift Tumors
Jalen Hurts (Image via IMAGO)

Despite the rising tensions between the athletes, Hurts claimed that they are still on good terms.

Nothing has changed since we last spoke at the end of the season. We’re really good. I saw how beautiful the pictures came out at his [AJ Brown’s] wedding. I’m very happy for him and his wife and his family. It’s a beautiful thing to step into a covenant. So, I was very excited and congratulatory towards that.

Jalen Hurts said (H/T Sports Illustrated)

How is Jalen Hurts’ relationship with the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator?

All the blame for the Eagles’ offensive struggles was directed at Kevin Patullo, who was fired shortly after the season ended. Philly hired former NFL quarterback and Green Bay Packers QB coach Sean Mannion as the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Mannion is the fifth OC Hurts is learning from since the Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft. Hurts is learning Mannion’s playbook.

I just want to ingrain myself into what we’re doing and go out there and prove it every day. There’s are pivotal reps, very important reps right now that we’re getting. So, I think that’ll be good for us.

Hurts said

Even though Mannion’s tenure as the OC has been brief, he’s already gauged what makes Hurts an excellent NFL quarterback.

He really attacks the fundamentals. That’s what’s been really fun to watch these last two weeks of phase two. He’s always coming, wanting more things to work on, wanting more things regarding fundamentals, timing, [and] understanding the scheme. He’s hungry for more.

Mannion said

The Eagles are set to face the 10th-easiest schedule in 2026, but that doesn’t guarantee a smooth path to the playoffs. The real question is whether Brown will still be on the roster by then.

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