Jalen Hurts’ start to training camp hasn’t exactly quieted the noise around the Eagles’ offense.
Three days into Philadelphia’s camp, Hurts still had not thrown a touchdown pass, and that was enough to get NFL insider John Frascella talking about what the quarterback is missing. Frascella pointed to AJ Brown, saying Hurts needs the receiver in a way Drake Maye does not.
“AJ Brown is a MUCH better fit for the Eagles than the Patriots: 1. Jalen Hurts needs AJ Brown, Drake Maye doesn’t 2.
AJ Brown needs Jalen Hurts, Drake Maye doesn’t need AJB 3. DeVonta Smith is a WR2 not a WR1 4.
Patriots have plenty of other receiving options that are good,” Frascella tweeted.
Brown and Hurts spent four years together in Philadelphia, and that partnership helped push the team to two Super Bowls, including a win in 2025. But Brown was unhappy with the Eagles’ offense last season, and that frustration eventually led him out of Philly and to the New England Patriots this offseason.
Philadelphia now heads into a three-game preseason slate before the 2026 regular season begins. The Eagles open at the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m.
ET, then travel to face the Patriots on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. ET, before wrapping up preseason play at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, Aug. 28, at 8 p.m.
ET.
The Eagles won the NFC East last season, but their playoff run ended quickly with a 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round. If Philadelphia is going to make another push at the Super Bowl next season, Hurts will be right in the middle of it.
In Other News...
Jalen Hurts Just Changed The Mood Around Eagles Camp
The first week of Eagles training camp had a familiar pressure point attached to it, with Jalen Hurts drawing heat for a slow start, no touchdown passes and a string of sacks. By the time Day 4 rolled around, though, the tone around practice had shifted noticeably. Hurts was sharper, more decisive and started stacking the kind of completions that can change the feel of a camp session in a hurry.
Reporters came away pointing to the improvement as a welcome sign for an offense trying to find its rhythm early. The progress did not erase the rough opening stretch, but it did give the Eagles something they badly needed this time of year: evidence that the quarterback can reset quickly and lift the whole group with him. [Read more 🡒]
Nolan Smith Just Added Real Pressure To A Huge Eagles Season
Nolan Smith opened up this week about the speeding and reckless driving arrest that has followed him through the offseason, publicly apologizing for what he called an unacceptable mistake. The Eagles edge rusher said he has already addressed it with the organization and stressed accountability to his teammates, a notable step for a player entering his fourth season with a real opportunity to cement his place in the lineup.
The timing matters because Philadelphia already made a commitment to Smith by picking up his fifth-year option in April, and this is the kind of offseason noise the Eagles would rather avoid around a defender they expect to lean on. Smith said he is focused on moving forward, but the episode has already added another layer of pressure to a season that could shape both his standing in Philadelphia and the clubs wider plans on defense. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Training Camp Battle Is Heating Up Behind Cooper DeJean
The Eagles secondary is in the middle of a noticeable reset as training camp gets underway, with Cooper DeJean shifting from nickel to safety in base looks and likely lining up next to Andrew Mukuba. At the same time, Philadelphia is working newcomer Riq Woolen into the perimeter mix alongside Quinyon Mitchell, giving Vic Fangio a few different ways to sort out a defense that is still settling into its new shape.
Behind DeJean, the competition is already starting to sharpen in the sub packages, where Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II are vying for playing time. The Eagles have options there, but they also have decisions to make, and the way those snaps are divided could tell a lot about how the back end is going to look once the real games arrive. [Read more 🡒]
