AJ Brown stats: Why Eagles star WR's usage has been controversial topic in Philadelphia

Daniel Mader

•
AJ Brown stats: Why Eagles star WR's usage has been controversial topic in Philadelphia image

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have started the 2025 season 4-1. So what could be going wrong?

In reality, the team has faced several significant questions that remain unanswered. All four of Philadelphia's wins came by one score, and they then lost at home to the Denver Broncos. Saquon Barkley has not been rushing at anywhere near the pace he did in 2024, and A.J. Brown, the team’s top star wide receiver, has been putting up below-average numbers by his standards.

While Brown has long been vocal about wanting the football, there have been clear issues with his role in the Eagles’ offense this season. Entering Week 6, he is on pace for a career-low in receiving yards, and he recently drew attention when he appeared to express his frustrations on social media.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

What's been up with A.J. Brown this season? Here's a dive into his numbers compared to the rest of his career, plus what Brown has said about his role in Philadelphia.

MORE: NFL Week 6 picks, predictions

A.J. Brown 2025 stats

  • Games: 5
  • Targets: 36
  • Receptions: 19
  • Receiving Yards: 194
  • AVG: 10.2
  • TDs: 1

Brown hasn't been his typically dominant self through five games of the Eagles' title defense in 2025. Uncharacteristically for Philadelphia's offense, it's Devonta Smith (272 yards) who leads the team in receiving, with six more catches than Brown. In fairness, Brown still leads the team in targets with 36, but he and Jalen Hurts haven't been on the same page often.

Brown has just one game with over 50 receiving yards thus far, a 109-yard performance against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3 in which he also scored his lone touchdown. In Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys and Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brown failed to eclipse even 10 receiving yards. He had 27 yards in Week 2 and 43 yards in Week 5.

Brown isn't the only Eagles star who isn't on pace to match their career numbers. Barkley is on pace for 907 rushing yards, which would be his worst since his 13-game 2021 season and over 1,000 yards fewer than his electric 2024 season.

Winning will continue to come first in Philadelphia, but something will have to give for the team's offense. As evidenced by their Week 5 loss to Denver, the Eagles will have to get their best players, including Brown, back in rhythm to maintain their success.

MORE: Why Jalen Hurts ran after his own Hail Mary pass vs. Broncos

A.J. Brown 2025 stats vs. career

Not only would Brown’s 10.2 yards per catch this season be a career low, but he is also on pace to set new career lows nearly across the board. He is tracking to finish with 659 receiving yards on 64 catches and three touchdowns in 2025 — all would be career lows.

Brown’s previous worst marks in these categories were 869 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans, along with 52 catches in his rookie year in 2019. He played only 13 games in 2021; over a full season of at least 16 games, his career lows are 1,051 receiving yards (2019) and seven touchdowns (2023 and 2024).

All things considered, Brown is nowhere near matching his usual production as a wide receiver this season. With five 1,000-yard campaigns already on his resume, he will need to pick up the pace in the coming weeks to return to the elite level he typically produces statistically.

Here's a full breakdown of Brown's 2025 statistical pace vs. his averages in every season of his career from 2019-24.

2025 PaceStatistic2019-24 Average
122Targets115.8
64Receptions74.3
659Receiving Yards1,171
10.2Yards Per Catch15.8
3Touchdowns8.2

POWER RANKINGS: Eagles, Bills fall behind 49ers, Lions; Patriots, Colts, Broncos leap for Week 6

A.J. Brown tweets

After the Eagles' 31-25 victory over the Buccaneers in Week 4, Brown made some headlines for his social media post including a Bible quote. Brown had just seven receiving yards on nine targets in the win. He also declined to speak with the media after that game.

"If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way," the quote Brown posted said.

MORE: How Eagles lost first game of season to Broncos

    A.J. Brown comments

    Brown later met with the media and addressed his postgame social media post, which was later deleted. He said he let his "frustrations boil over" and stated that his post wasn't directed at anyone inside the Eagles' building, including Jalen Hurts.

    Brown also clarified to reporters that he doesn't find it to be a negative concept that he wants the ball.

    "I don't think it's a bad thing for wanting the ball," Brown said, per ESPN. "It's not just for targets or anything, to put numbers up, no. I see that we're struggling and I'm a guy that wants the ball in those times when we can't find a way. Give it to me. When the game's on the line, give the ball to me. I want that, I want that pressure, I put it on myself, and I work hard for it.

    "You can misconstrue whatever perspective about me, but it is what it is, and I don't care to be honest because my teammates know that when the game's on the line, look at me. And I want everybody in the stadium to know that. It's not a secret. I'm not shying away from that."

    Brown added that he'll talk with Hurts throughout game weeks, but during games, he's not someone that would ask for the ball.

    "People said he was forcing me the ball because I'm complaining, but if you ask any of my teammates, I'm probably the quietest one on the sideline. I don't even go to the huddle during the timeouts," Brown said, per ESPN. "I try to let the game come to me."

    The wide receiver also showed no interest in an exit from Philadelphia.

    "This is home," Brown said, per ESPN. "Unfortunately, I did it to myself. But this is my home. I love it here. But you just see frustration because we want to be great and most definitely, I want to be great as well."

    After the Super Bowl in February, Brown also shared a social media post that detailed that his "thrill for this game" comes from dominating and "the journey."

    Daniel Mader

    Daniel Mader is a Content Producer for The Sporting News. He joined SN in 2024 as an editorial intern following graduation from Penn State University. He has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. Daniel grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.