logo
An eye-opening stat reveals how elite A.J. Brown is at the wide receiver position

An eye-opening stat reveals how elite A.J. Brown is at the wide receiver position

USA Todaya day ago

An eye-opening stat reveals how elite A.J. Brown is at the wide receiver position A.J. Brown's 16.1 yards per reception last season was second among all wideouts with at least 80 targets, behind only Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions.
Being a part of a run-first offense has its downsides. Just ask Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, who in 2024 saw his lowest statistical outputs since coming to Philadelphia, while playing in 13 games.
While injuries contributed to that, Saquon Barkley's historic rushing season limited the opportunities for Eagles' pass-catchers.
Numbers don't tell the entire story, however.
When Brown was involved, he was one of the NFL's most explosive players. His 16.1 yards per reception last season was second among all wideouts with at least 80 targets, behind only Jameson Williams of the Detroit Lions.
Jameson Williams 17.3 yards/reception A.J. Brown 16.1 yards/reception Calvin Ridley 15.9 yards/reception Darnell Mooney 15.5 yards/reception George Pickens 15.3 yards/reception DK Metcalf 15.0 yards/reception
Brown earned the league's highest receiving grade vs. single coverage last season (96.6), via Pro Football Focus. He also logged five 100-yard games, tied for the most among all wide receivers during the regular season.
At just 28 years old, Brown is still performing at an elite level, and a step back from the Eagles' run game or defense in 2025 could only increase his value in Philadelphia's offense.
'It has to change; it has to evolve,' Brown said of the offense in February. 'I don't know what wrinkles would look like, but we have to find ways to get better, you know? It's a lot of fame out there on us — we just won — and guys are going to be coming at us. We're not doing the hunting anymore. We're the hunted, and we have to get better.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp
Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp

Yahoo

time36 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp

Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Over offseason after their Super Bowl LIX win, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the NFL world with the trade of a key safety that helped hold off the Kansas City Chiefs. Advertisement The Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in exchange for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round selection, even after Gardner-Johnson posted six interceptions last season. Months after the trade, Gardner-Johnson has talked about the trade and even took to social media recently to seemingly respond to comments made by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. At a workout and interview with Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Gardner-Johnson talked about being "disrespected" by the offseason buzz. "I feel highly disrespected, but it's a business,' Gardner-Johnson said. 'Never was an All-Pro or Pro Bowl! Never! Led the league in interceptions. What more do you want? Advertisement 'People say, 'He's a hazard, he's this, he's that.' I never been no hazard, bro. They got no real issues on me. That black ball ain't going to work on me, because I got me a ring. I got me one. I got three more championships in me. I'm probably going to win the next three. I'm going to get me another Super Bowl this year. Just watch.' Gardner-Johnson, 27, has set his sights on Super Bowl LX with the Texans. Houston is a franchise with a talented roster, especially its stacked defense, but they've never reached the AFC title game before with six losses in the divisional round of the playoffs. Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson before Super Bowl Streicher-Imagn Images Regardless, Gardner-Johnson is eager to join head coach DeMeco Ryans' squad and make an immediate impact. Advertisement "I can't speak for everybody, but I know that we're gonna get in there and be at the top at the end of the year and have a chance to compete for a championship," Gardner-Johnson said. 'I think that's why I'm here. I'm proud to be a Texan. I want to make coach Ryans proud. Coming together and trying to win one together, it would be kind of amazing.' Related: C.J. Stroud Puts Injury Concerns to Rest This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

Myles Garrett on Aaron Rodgers: 'Good opportunity to put him in the graveyard'
Myles Garrett on Aaron Rodgers: 'Good opportunity to put him in the graveyard'

Fox Sports

time44 minutes ago

  • Fox Sports

Myles Garrett on Aaron Rodgers: 'Good opportunity to put him in the graveyard'

Quarterback and four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is officially a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A player that he'll be seeing at least twice next year, Cleveland Browns superstar defensive end Myles Garrett, is pumped — but probably not for the same reason that Rodgers is. "I think it's a good opportunity to put him in the graveyard," Garrett responded on Tuesday when asked what his reaction was to Rodgers signing with the Steelers, according to ESPN. So, there's that. In 2021, it was revealed that Garrett had a Halloween-themed graveyard on his front lawn of all the quarterbacks he had sacked or was planning to take down. After originally requesting a trade in February, Garrett, a four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, signed a four-year, $160 million extension ($123.5 million guaranteed) with the Browns, with his $40 million average annual salary breaking the NFL record for a defensive player. Last season, Garrett totaled 14.0 sacks, an NFL-high 22 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 47 combined tackles. He ranked second among edge defenders in pass-rush grade (92.8) and overall grade (92.3) and 11th in run-defense grade (78.4), according to Pro Football Focus. It marked the second consecutive season that Garrett registered double-digit sacks. As for Garrett's chances of putting Rodgers in the dirt, the defensive end has 13.0 sacks and four forced fumbles in 14 career games against the AFC North-rival Steelers. Garrett has faced off against Rodgers once, with the veteran quarterback's then-Green Bay Packers getting a 24-22 win at home on Christmas Day in the 2021 season. Garrett finished with one combined tackle. Pittsburgh inked the 41-year-old Rodgers to a base one-year, $13.7 million deal earlier this month. He was released by the New York Jets after two seasons in March. Last season, Rodgers totaled 3,897 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 90.5 passer rating, while completing 63.0% of his passes in a 5-12 season for New York. Garrett's first chance to end Rodgers once and for all will be on Oct. 12, when Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland. The two teams split their 2024 regular-season series, with them each winning on their respective home turf. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Cleveland Browns Myles Garrett Aaron Rodgers recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Takeaways and observations from the Eagles mandatory minicamp
Takeaways and observations from the Eagles mandatory minicamp

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Takeaways and observations from the Eagles mandatory minicamp

After weeks of off-season training and on-field preparation, the Philadelphia Eagles held their mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday before the squad takes a five-week break until training camp. The mandatory minicamp was part of Phase 3 of the NFL offseason. During the practice, Philadelphia participated in 7 on 7, 9 on 7, and 11 on 11 drills, with no live contact taking place. Like in OTAs, players cannot wear pads except protective knee and elbow pads, though helmets are permitted. With Tuesday's session complete, we're looking at the takeaways, observations, and analysis from the NovaCare Complex one final time before training camp in July. With no contract disputes or severe injuries, Nick Sirianni confirmed that all 90 players on the Eagles roster were in attendance, giving some insight into the urgency of this season and the leadership in place. Saquon Barkley had a hectic off-season that included playing golf with President Donald Trump and landing the cover of Madden NFL 26. He also referenced potentially retiring like Barry Sanders one day. On Tuesday, Barkley talked about being in the prime of his career, with no worry about retiring anytime soon. It's only minicamp, but Hurts has looked efficient, strong, and, according to ESP, accurate. Gray was a topic of discussion around the NovaCare Complex, and the player we featured in a recent article continues to turn heads at Eagles practice. Gray signed with the Eagles' practice squad in mid-September after failing to make the 49ers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He wasn't elevated for a single game during the 2024 campaign, but by signing a future deal, Gray can participate in OTAs, minicamps, and training camps with the Eagles. It wasn't full pads, and no thumping took place, but the Eagles' first-round pick looked athletic and fluid during on-field drills. If a game were played today, Azeez Ojulari would have seen snaps with Nolan Smith out, and Jalyx Hunt would have replaced Brandon Graham on the edge. Sydney Brown is getting first-team reps, along with Cooper DeJean. With Zack Baun getting a rest day, the rookie got first-team snaps alongside Jeremiah Trotter. The Eagles selected Mondon Jr. with the No. 161 pick in the NFL draft. A former two-sport athlete who ran track in high school, Mondon won a pair of national championships and SEC titles during his four-year career with the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker battled through injuries during his junior and senior seasons, but remained productive. In 2024, Mondon logged 57 tackles, three sacks, and three pass deflections. He finished the year as Georgia's seventh-leading tackler. Mondon posted 39 tackles and three sacks down the stretch over Georgia's final five games. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles minicamp: Reaction and analysis from final off-season practice

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store