Brown embraces Hurts at first joint practice since trade
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- A.J. Brown jogged over to embrace Jalen Hurts before Thursday's Eagles-Patriots joint practice, their first conversation since Brown was traded from Philadelphia to New England on June 1.
- Brown had publicly stated the day before that he hadn't spoken to Hurts since the trade, though the Thursday exchange appeared to put any lingering tension to rest.
- During their first two seasons as Eagles teammates, Brown and Hurts both earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections, and Brown's two best statistical seasons came with Hurts throwing him the ball.
- In 2022, Hurts and Brown helped Philadelphia capture its fourth NFC title, connecting on a 45-yard touchdown on the first play of that Super Bowl's second quarter.
- Hurts won Super Bowl LIX MVP in 2024 with three total touchdowns, a 77.3% completion rate, and a game-high in rushing yards; Brown also caught a touchdown in the Eagles' win over Kansas City.
- Brown is now building rapport with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, while Hurts works with a rebuilt Philadelphia receiving corps headlined by rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon.
Why it matters: Both players face 2026 proof-of-concept seasons apart: Brown must build chemistry with Drake Maye in New England, while Hurts integrates a rebuilt receiving corps headlined by rookie Makai Lemon. Their back-to-back Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl runs were a shared product — now each must show the production travels, rather than was tied to the other.
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