A.J. Brown's stats since reading a book on the sideline during playoffs aren't good for the Eagles

Billy Heyen

A.J. Brown's stats since reading a book on the sideline during playoffs aren't good for the Eagles image

There's a bit of a worrisome trend line in A.J. Brown's recent production.

His stats since he went viral for reading a book on the sideline during a Philadelphia Eagles playoff game are not good.

Brown was shown reading on the sideline on Jan. 12 during the wild card round against the Green Bay Packers.

He was reading a self-help book, Inner Excellence, by Jim Murphy.

That day, Brown wasn't doing much of anything. He finished with one catch for 10 yards.

The next week, Brown had two catches for 14 yards (but did score a touchdown).

His only big game in the stretch came in the NFC Championship, when he went for six catches, 96 yards and a score.

MORE: Video reveals Dak Prescott spit first before Jalen Carter

In the Super Bowl, Brown had three catches for 43 yards and a TD.

And in Thursday's 2025 NFL season opener, Brown had one catch for eight yards, coming late in the fourth quarter on his only target.

Brown has been one of the NFL's top receivers for most of his career, so it's probably better to trust the larger sample size rather than the smaller one.

But until Brown puts together a couple big weeks in a row, there'll be at least a little concern.

Brown may have figured out inner excellence, but the Eagles could use some on-field excellence from him once again.

MORE NFL NEWS:

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle