Steelers visit Philly amid Eagles tension following A.J. Brown's complaints about passing game

As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to visit Philadelphia this weekend, they are hardly walking into the “City of Brotherly Love.”

The 11-2 Eagles will welcome the Steelers on Sunday during a nine-game win streak. However, all is not harmonious at the other end of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

After Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers, wide receiver A.J. Brown was asked what could improve with the offense. His one-word response was, “Passing.”

Brown was then asked if it’s hard to get into a rhythm as a receiver when the offense is only throwing 21 times.

“Incredibly tough,” Brown replied after just four targets.

Pressed further, Brown was also asked what the conversations were like on the sideline with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Browns said, “There’s not too much conversation.”

AJ Brown on what the offense needs to improve on:

“Passing”

Says everything is fixable

Says he slammed his helmet out of frustration after a 3-and-out pic.twitter.com/iSG4MvOpt2

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 8, 2024

During a radio show on WIP, linebacker Brandon Graham didn’t seem to like how Brown aired out his quarterback.

“The person that’s complaining needs to be accountable,” Graham said. “I know (No.) 1 (Hurts) is trying and (No.) 11 (Brown) could be better with how he responds to things. They were friends before this, but things have changed. I understand this, as life happens. But it’s the business side that we have to make sure that we don’t let the personal get in the way.”

Graham made it sound like this wasn’t the first time there has been friction between Hurts and Brown.

“We know it’s an issue,” Graham continued. “Everyone has seen some things. But we need to be able to talk things out as men. We need to let personal stuff go and let’s get right for this game. Because a lot of times it’s just a conversation that needs to be had. But the person with the problem has got to want to talk to the (other) person instead of others.”

“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

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) December 9, 2024

Graham later told ESPN.com that he was wrong to comment on the matter publicly.

“I made a mistake and I assumed that it was something that it wasn’t,” Graham said. “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.”

FS1’s Emmanuel Acho put together a bunch of clips showing Hurts missing Brown on open looks from that Carolina game which may have fed into Brown’s consternation.

The Eagles have turned A.J Brown into a track athlete, just getting cardio.

If you’re a competitor, watch this, and tell me you wouldn’t be furious too. ????#AchoAnalysis | @TheFacilityFS1 10am pic.twitter.com/sasqpNV1ab

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) December 9, 2024

Even former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens got into it with retired Philly QB Donovan McNabb about the situation. It seems like this topic of conversation hit a little too close to home for T.O.

Now this is interesting is coming from you. Not how I interpreted it but funny thing is, I agree with you on the idea of if you have issue with someone that you go to them and not the media but here’s the thing I ‘never’ had an issue with you but it’s known that you had an issue… https://t.co/wnB0ys1z52

— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) December 10, 2024

Statistically, the Eagles are seventh in the NFL at 371.1 yards per game. They are also eighth at 26.3 points per game. Yet, at 180.6 passing yards per contest, Philly ranks ahead of only New England (171.5) in the entire NFL.

Brown is fourth in yards per catch at 17.4 and 17th in yards, with 836. That said, he is only 47th in receptions with 48, and has just four touchdowns.

The Eagles are leaning heavily on running back Saquon Barkley. The Penn State product has 1,623 yards on 266 carries this year. He leads the league in both those categories.