Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown connect at Eagles-Patriots joint practices, quieting talk of rift
Brown said the former teammates had not spoken since the June 1st trade that sent him from Philly to New England.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Turning his head left and right to scan for onlookers on the sidelines, A.J. Brown ran across the Patriots practice field and only slowed down his trot as he finally approached Jalen Hurts.
The two men shared a high five, a hug and a brief conversation. Once considered close friends, the players looked like they couldn’t contain their smiles as they caught up.
The nature of the conversation remained a mystery, but it was a meeting fans and NFL observers had been anticipating for months.
For the first time since Brown was traded from the Eagles to the Patriots on June 1, the once-inseparable duo met on the lower practice field at New Balance Athletics Center, which is adjacent to Gillette Stadium, after their teams met for the second day of joint practices.
Brown and Hurts’ relationship goes back nearly a decade, when Hurts hosted Brown on a recruiting trip at the University of Alabama. The relationship blossomed to the point that Hurts was named godfather to Brown’s daughter, Jersee.
Their bond loosened near the end of their four-year run together in Philadelphia, with Brown reportedly wanting out due to frustration over his lack of targets last season.
Whatever tension exists, both players have acknowledged the success they had during their tenure together. Hurts helped Brown post the two highest single-season receiving yard totals in Eagles history — 1,496 yards in 2022 and 1,456 in 2023. With Brown as his No. 1 target, Hurts grew into a three-time Pro Bowler and MVP candidate in 2022.
The pair helped lift the Eagles to a Super Bowl win in the 2024 season.
Brown spoke with a group of reporters on Wednesday and was asked about his relationship with Hurts.
“Philly, man, y’all are tough,” Brown said with a laugh. “Man, it’s love. Listen, honestly guys, none of that stuff even matters. You all should want to report something positive. You know asking the question is going to turn negative. Let’s not get into that. Let’s keep everything positive.
“It’s love my way. And move forward, that’s all.”
Hurts was asked a similar question Wednesday, as Brown spoke on another field.
“I think it was a great day out here,” Hurts said. “I mean, I know he’s going out there and competing. Got a lot of love for him. I always have. Seems like it was a competitive practice.”
Both men will be in attendance when the Patriots host the Eagles in both teams’ second preseason game on Saturday, but neither is expected to play.
Just a few months ago, when Eagles training camp got underway, the defense drew rave reviews. The prevailing sentiment was that the unit was poised to dominate this year. So far through three games, Vic Fangio’s group has done anything but. From the lack of forced turnovers to missed coverage assignments, the Eagles have plenty of room for improvement. Can Fangio work his magic to get the defense on track in time for this week’s showdown with the high-powered LA Rams? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane puts the defense under the microscope, and also answers listener questions in this week’s mailbag. Listen here.
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