It's not exactly typical for any fanbase to look forward to joint practice with any team during the offseason, but that was far from the case for Patriots fans who were excited to see how A.J. Brown would match up against his former team when they came to town for their second preseason matchup.
All eyes were expected to be on Brown and the Eagles, since the receiver's tenure in Philadelphia didn't end so amicably, and for the most part, the reunion didn't disappoint. It wasn't because there was bad blood shown or harsh words shared, but because Brown put on quite a show with Drake Maye and proved he's going to be a top-tier playmaker for the Patriots this fall.
Based on what we saw from the Eagles, however, it was looking more and more apparent that quarterback Jalen Hurts might already be missing one of his most reliable pass catchers in recent years, as his practice performances on Wednesday and Thursday were far from impressive.
Instead, he threw five interceptions, one of which would have been a pick-six if it were a regular season game, and his struggles to move the ball down the field were on full display.
Some of that could certainly be chalked up to missing receivers Makai Lemon (who is currently injured) and DeVonta Smith (who is just coming back from a hamstring injury), both of whom were not participating in practice, but it wouldn't be unfair to suggest that Brown's absence is going to have a big impact on Hurts's production, too.
Jalen Hurts is already looking like a different quarterback without A.J. Brown
Looking at all that has been said about Brown since he was traded, and even well before he went to the Patriots, you'd think that he was a washed-up superstar with not much left in the tank.
That's the perception many got from how Eagles fans have spoken about him over the past six months, and at this point, it wouldn't be uncalled for to suggest it was all just sour grapes because Brown has looked nothing but excellent since joining the Patriots.
It's likely because fans are upset that he appeared to "check out" of the team last season, and they didn't want him on the team if he wanted out. But he was an integral part of their recent Super Bowl run, especially their win over the Chiefs, and we're already seeing the impact of his absence in Hurts' performance.
Glenn Erby of Eagles Wire detailed how the quarterback looked against the Patriots defense this past week, and while Hurts is a talented quarterback, the loss of Brown might have a much bigger effect on his production than any Philly fan might want to admit.
"Costly mistakes accompanied the positive plays. One observer charted three Hurts interceptions across two seven-on-seven periods, with safety Craig Woodson recording two and Marcus Jones returning another in a situation that could have produced a defensive touchdown.
Hurts also faced consistent pressure and could not rescue a poor two-minute period that included a penalty, inaccurate throws and time expiring before the offense could score. The day showed the possibilities within Sean Mannion’s offense, but it also reinforced how quickly disruption can disrupt the unit's rhythm."
Knowing that Lemon and Smith weren't participating certainly helps keep some optimism going for the Eagles, and that's completely valid. But the long-term impact of losing Brown might become clear a lot sooner than they expected.
We're already seeing just how good he's going to be for Maye and the Patriots' offense, as he put on quite a show against his former team this past week. Brown is the best receiver the team has had in many years, with some even suggesting he's only comparable to Randy Moss, and he hasn't been in New England since 2009.
Early projections suggest Brown could be on the path to having one of the best seasons of his career, similar to his first season with the Eagles in 2022. Knowing that he will be working with Maye and Josh McDaniels, along with the most talented receiving corps the Patriots have had in possibly over a decade, those predictions don't seem extreme.
If that's what becomes a reality, then Hurts will probably regret losing Brown even more.
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