It’s been a rocky stretch in Philadelphia, and when the Eagles hit turbulence, the spotlight naturally swings to their biggest stars. Right now, that spotlight is squarely on quarterback Jalen Hurts-and, once again, Chris Simms is making sure of it.
During a recent appearance on The Howard Eskin Show, Simms didn’t drop Hurts’ name directly, but the implication was loud and clear. He pointed to wide receiver A.J. Brown as the “true leader” in the Eagles’ locker room, referencing Brown’s recent comments about the offense and suggesting that Brown spoke out because no one else-including Hurts-was stepping up.
“When it became what, three, four weeks ago, when they just flat out asked him, ‘What’s the problem with the team?’ He just said, ‘The offense,’” Simms said. “I think he took a little leadership there… because nobody in Philadelphia wanted to hear the truth and really what was going on.”
Simms went on to describe a locker room where blame is flying in every direction-coaches, players, even front office staff. And in his view, Brown had simply had enough.
According to Simms, Brown’s response was essentially: *We’re all catching heat, and one guy’s getting off scot-free. *
The implication? That “one guy” is Hurts.
Now, it’s fair to acknowledge that Brown has been vocal. He’s made his frustrations known-whether that’s through cryptic social media posts or straight-up calling out the offense in interviews.
And to be honest, he hasn’t been wrong. The offense has been a problem.
The Eagles currently rank in the bottom 10 in total offense, and they’re sitting in the bottom half of the league in both passing and rushing. That’s a far cry from what we’ve come to expect under head coach Nick Sirianni, especially considering the firepower this team has on paper.
This isn’t just a dip in form. Statistically, it’s the worst offensive output the Eagles have had in Sirianni’s five-year tenure.
But here’s where things get tricky: Simms seems to be laying all of that at Hurts’ feet. As if the quarterback is solely responsible for the Eagles’ offensive woes.
No mention of Kevin Patullo’s conservative and often predictable play calling. No acknowledgment of the offensive line’s struggles, especially with Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson battling injuries.
No critique of Saquon Barkley, who hasn’t been able to generate the explosive plays Philly hoped he’d bring. And certainly no mention of Brown himself, who had three drops in the Chargers game and has been flagged for multiple false starts this season.
Instead, Simms zeroes in on Hurts.
Now, this isn’t about questioning Brown’s leadership. He’s a passionate, vocal presence in the locker room, and he’s not afraid to speak the uncomfortable truths.
That’s valuable. But using Brown’s comments as a springboard to once again question Hurts’ leadership feels like a well-worn path for Simms-one he’s been walking for a while now.
And that’s what makes this whole conversation feel tired.
Hurts isn’t above criticism. No quarterback is.
He’s had his share of inconsistent performances this season, and he’ll be the first to say he needs to be better. But the idea that he’s somehow dodging accountability while the rest of the team suffers doesn’t line up with what we know about Hurts’ demeanor, work ethic, or presence in the locker room.
He’s long been respected by teammates and coaches alike for his poise and leadership, even when things aren’t going well.
The Eagles are in a funk. That much is clear.
And when a team with Super Bowl aspirations starts to slide, fingers will get pointed. But this is a complex situation with plenty of blame to go around.
Singling out one player-especially the quarterback-might make for good radio, but it doesn’t paint the full picture.
So yes, A.J. Brown is speaking up.
And yes, the offense needs answers. But if the Eagles are going to turn things around, it’s going to take more than just one guy stepping up.
It’s going to take all of them-Hurts, Brown, Sirianni, the offensive line, and everyone in between-getting back on the same page and rediscovering the rhythm that made this team so dangerous not long ago.