A.J. Brown Philadelphia Eagles
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles leaves the field following a game against the Detroit Lions at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the more maligned 8-2 teams in football. And whilst the team does continue to rack up win after win, there is perhaps some validity in the statement.
The Eagles are 19th in total defense and 25th in total offense – both below average placements. Specifically on offense, much criticism has been rained down on the both team’s playmakers and new offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo.
One of the biggest recipients of less than kind “words of encouragement” has been wideout, AJ Brown, whose form has taken yet another dip after a slightly diminished 2024 regular season showing last year.
Brown has been more than vocal about his thoughts on the offense and his utilization within it.
AJ Brown Takes Unsolicited Shot At Saquon Barkley
However, speaking on November 20th, a couple of days ahead of the team’s divisional showdown against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, Brown seemingly took a shot not just at the offense, but at reigning Defensive Player of the Year and teammate, Saquon Barkley.
Tim McManus
“I guess Saquon ain’t the same player either, then.”
A.J. Brown on speculation he isn’t the same player this season.
“I guess Saquon ain’t the same player either,” Brown said in response to a question asking if he was the same player he was in years prior, “I don’t got no comment about that. I don’t care about that.”
Although Brown was subsequently pushed to confirm that he did not actually believe that he is not the same player, and responded tellingly, “Y’all don’t believe that”, it is certainly notable that commented on his teammate’s dip in form in such a public way – using Barkley’s down year to build against his own criticism from the media.
Brown clearly seems to believe that both he and Barkley are “unchanged”, so to speak, but it is apparent that he sees some links and similarities between his form and his fellow All-Pro’s.
How Much Have Barkley And Brown Regressed In 2025?
Although both may remain the same player in an ontological sense, they are certainly not putting up the kind of numbers, or the type of showings that we saw from either last year.
10 games into the season, and Brown has yet to surpass just the 500 yard receiving mark, ranking him 46th in the league – far down from the 17th position he took in receiving yards in the 2024 regular season.
Whilst the former Tennessee Titan was already seeming like a somewhat declining commodity anyway since last season, Barkley’s drop-off has been far steeper.
The ex-New York Giant has gone from 1st to 14th in the league in rushing yards, and his efficiency metrics have plummeted, going from a massive 5.8 yards per carry last regular season, to just 3.8 YPC in 2025.
He has also managed just 4 rushing touchdowns on the season so far.
Barkley is hardly a “bad” player, but it does look like he is in fact not the same guy who drove the Eagles to the #2 seed after the regular season before subsequently winning Super Bowl LIX.
So, in fact, it could be that Brown’s initial comments were right – that neither are quite the same player, whether they like it or not.