A.J. Brown might feel the Eagles are part of his past now that he's with the Patriots and eyeing a return in Week 6 against the Jets, but that doesn't mean the growing problems with his former team aren't something he might be paying attention to, especially since things continue to go downhill in Philadelphia.
The wide receiver drew heavy backlash from Eagles fans this past offseason for reportedly seeking a trade, with many analysts labeling him the biggest locker-room problem, particularly on offense, and arguing that a divorce would be best sooner rather than later.
That seemed confirmed when the trade to New England was announced, and several Eagles players made their happiness with the move apparent online and to reporters. After he went down with an ankle injury in Week 1, fans took a victory lap over what the team got in return for the trade, believing they got the better end of the deal.
But now that we're five weeks into the 2026 season, the Eagles are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Jaguars, bringing them to a 2-3 record. With injuries piling up and questions about the roster and coaching staff dominating front-page news, did they really win in the trade?
It's looking more and more like the issues Brown saw behind the scenes, and the reasons he wanted off the team, are only being validated with every passing week, and even the biggest Eagles fans are starting to realize it.
A.J. Brown is handed another reason to be thankful he was traded from the Eagles
If you have watched an Eagles game this season, it's hard to miss just how dysfunctional things appear for the Super Bowl LIX Champions. What once looked like the team to beat in the NFC for the next decade has quickly crumbled, and they won't be able to keep blaming Brown much longer.
From the moment he joined the Patriots, it was clear that the past few months' smear campaign was just that, as Brown couldn't have been a better teammate and representative for the Patriots upon his arrival.
He quickly acclimated to Josh McDaniels' offense and developed undeniable chemistry with Drake Maye during training camp, further fueling optimism about what the 2026 season could be for the reigning AFC Champions.
The Eagles hoped they would have a similar success with Brown out the door, giving DeVonta Smith the clear WR1 role and rookie Makai Lemon right behind him.
It didn't look like that would hold up through the offseason, as quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled consistently at practice, and that has continued into the regular season. Now, through five games, Nick Sirianni is under fire again as the Eagles struggle to do much right, and the problems keep piling up.
Even worse is the number of injuries they're dealing with, particularly on offense, and it could almost be argued that they've already waved the white flag after Lane Johnson's sudden retirement and trading their center the following day.
The dynamic between Hurts and his offensive teammates doesn't look all that positive, as we saw a similar sideline image between him and Smith just a few weeks ago, similar to the one we saw with Brown last season, further proving that the current Patriots' receiver was not the issue, at least, not their only one.
That has Eagles fans expressing their version of an apology to Brown on social media, claiming he was right the entire time, as they watch their favorite team melt down in front of their eyes with no real hope of making a comeback.
That must feel good for Brown, who was the scapegoat for the Eagles' problems over the past two years, and he can now move on to bigger and better things with the Patriots as he returns for the first time since Week 1.
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