A.J. Brown offers well-wishes to former Eagles teammate Jalen Hurts: ‘I’ve got a lot of love and respect for him’
The former Eagles receiver was traded to the New England Patriots in June but has emphasized that there's no bad blood between him and Hurts.
A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts may no longer share a locker room, and their once-close friendship may have faded, but the former Eagles wide receiver still shared plenty of support for his former quarterback.
Brown offered prayers and well-wishes to Hurts, who is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in his lungs.
“It’s a tough situation, man,” Brown told reporters on Tuesday. “I’ve got a lot of love and respect for him, praying for him. I didn’t know how serious it was. I think all of us kind of found that out, but he’s a tough guy.”
Brown, who was traded to the New England Patriots in June, spent four seasons playing alongside Hurts. Their partnership helped lead the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, including a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
The two had been close friends before Brown arrived in Philadelphia via a draft-day trade in 2022, but their relationship became a subject of scrutiny during his final seasons with the Eagles.
Brown publicly expressed frustration with the Eagles’ passing offense at various points during the 2025 season, fueling questions about his relationship with Hurts and his future in Philadelphia.
After being traded to New England, Brown acknowledged during an appearance on the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast with Carmelo Anthony that he and Hurts were “not as close as we once were,” although he insisted there was no animosity between them.
“Nothing happened, people just grow apart,” Brown said in June, explaining that their friendship had changed naturally over time.
» READ MORE: A.J. Brown wanted what was best for himself. You’d do the same thing. | Opinion
Brown also emphasized in June that he still loved Hurts and wanted to see him succeed. His comments Tuesday reinforced that sentiment as Hurts faces a significant health challenge.
“He can handle anything, and I don’t mean that lightly,” Brown said. “I know it’s serious. But he can handle it, and I pray God continues to keep his hand on him.”
Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, announced Monday that the quarterback had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli following additional medical testing.
Hurts initially was diagnosed with superficial vein thrombosis in his left calf before Philadelphia’s Oct. 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. He was cleared to play before subsequent testing revealed the more serious condition.
» READ MORE: A rough timeline of the Jalen Hurts blood clot event
According to Lynn’s statement, Hurts is “clinically stable” and expected to make a full recovery. His treatment requires blood thinners, which will prevent him from participating in contact activities, including football, until his treatment is completed.
For Brown, the diagnosis offered another reminder that their relationship extends beyond football, even as their careers have taken them in different directions.
“It’s a lot of love and respect from this way,” Brown said. “Speedy recovery, and a lot of love.”
The news keeps getting worse. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will likely miss the rest of the 2026 season with a deep vein thrombosis blood clot, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli. Moments after the story broke, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Marcus Hayes reacted to the news, looking at what the diagnosis means for the Super Bowl MVP, how the Eagles handled the situation dating back to their trip to London, and whether backup Tanner McKee is ready to take the helm on a full-time basis. Listen here.
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