Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs off the field after win against the Pittsburgh Steelers Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
Nicole Lynn — Jalen Hurts' agent — had a strong response on social media after the Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-13 Sunday:
Yall good now?
— Nicole Lynn (@AgentNicoleLynn) December 16, 2024
Hurts responded to a week of speculation about his relationship with wideout A.J. Brown by completing 25 of 32 passes for 290 yards and two touchdown passes, adding another score on the ground. It was an excellent performance for Hurts, who found Brown eight times for 110 yards and a touchdown.
This comes a week after the Eagles narrowly defeated an inferior Carolina Panthers team 22-16, with Hurts throwing for just 108 yards. After the game, Brown — who was held to just four catches for 43 yards — was asked what needed to be improved about the offense and responded by saying "passing," among a series of other short answers in his postgame meeting with the media:
AJ Brown on what the Eagles offense needs to improve on:
“Passing”
Video: @EliotShorrParks
pic.twitter.com/8rjYZGWC6H
Whether it was intended to be a shot at Hurts or not, Brown's comments came off like he was upset with Hurts. And based off of a couple times when Brown seemed to be open on slants to the end zone, the Pro Bowl receiver probably had enough reason to be frustrated with Hurts. Regardless of what he actually meant, his public comments certainly opened up a can of worms.
Brandon Graham — appearing particularly upset with Brown coming off like he was frustrated with Hurts publicly — poured gasoline on the fire during his Monday show on SportsRadio 94 WIP:
“I know 1 is trying and 11 could be better with how he responds to things. They were friends, but things have changed.”
Brandon Graham gives insight to the AJ Brown/Jalen Hurts drama: pic.twitter.com/RcouHPGK43
After his comments blew up, Graham tried to put the toothpaste back in the tube. He sort of did that, but you still left feeling like the longest-tenured Eagle wanted Brown and Hurts to hash things out:
Just spoke with Brandon Graham. He clarified his comments about Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown's relationship.
"I just assumed [about their friendship] and it made me out to look even worse because I had it all wrong and now people are going to run with that part."
[Cont.]
"I really just want to win, man, and I want brothers to be able to just hash it out.
“I’m going to make sure I apologize to both of them.”
"I really just want to win, man, and I want brothers to be able to just hash it out.
“I’m going to make sure I apologize to both of them.”
"I made a mistake and I assumed that it was something that it wasn’t. I just want to win so bad that I don’t just want to use the media when we need to talk about something and we can fix the problem ourselves. I didn’t add to it in a good light so that’s my bad.”
Brown and Hurts both said the right things publicly later in the week, although if there was tension between the two, it's not like they were going to come out and announce that to the world. At the very least, there was a perception — both externally and seemingly from some inside the locker room — that Brown and Hurts weren't on great terms. Maybe that wasn't the case. But for anyone to suggest that this was just a case of the media trying to stir the pot is naive, to put it nicely.
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Sunday morning that the Eagles had a team meeting this week, one that featured Graham apologizing and Brown and Hurts dapping each other up and insisting there wasn't any issue:
The latest from @JayGlazer on Bill Belichick, the relationship between Jalen Hurts & A.J. Brown, and how Pittsburgh got the most out of Russell Wilson this season.
Plus, more on the situation involving 49ers' De'Vondre Campbell, who elected not to go into Thursday's game vs LA. pic.twitter.com/VtXDfgFv5T
Sunday, Hurts and Brown were good. Perhaps there was tension, and this forced them to address it and now they will move forward. Maybe there wasn't tension, and both Brown and Graham misspoke, giving off that impression. From here, the former seems more likely than the latter.
