Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith heard it loud and clear at Wednesday’s Eagles-Patriots joint practice at Gillette Stadium: A.J. Brown isn’t interested in pleasantries, and his two-letter response about his former quarterback tells you everything you need to know.
The Practice Field Cold Shoulder
August 19, 2026, was supposed to be a joint practice at Gillette Stadium, but for A.J. Brown facing his former Eagles, it quickly became a lesson in cold shoulders. Predictably, there were no fireworks, and the former Eagles wide receiver mostly kept his distance. After a short interaction with “Big Dom,” Brown literally jogged past nearly everyone in Eagles gear to stretch with his new Patriots squad. Yeah, some might argue he was laser-focused on business, but the optics were clear. It stood in sharp contrast to another Philly alum, Milton Williams, who made sure to take a couple of minutes to chop it up with Head Coach Nick Sirianni and a few defensive linemen before practice even got going. Brown, on the other hand, made it abundantly clear he was there to work, not to reminisce. You could feel the tons of energy and intensity from the first snap of one-on-ones, with Brown even dropping a pass defended tightly by Quinyon Mitchell, yet the pleasantries were mostly, though not entirely, abstained from.
The Truth In Two Letters
The real gut punch came when both Brown and his former close friends offered up succinct revelations about their outright lack of relationship. When Brown was directly asked if he’d spoken to Jalen Hurts since being traded, his answer was a direct, undeniable “No.” He even acknowledged that any further answers on the situation would inevitably turn negative, and he wasn’t about to feed into that. And if he plans to talk to Hurts when the Eagles come to New England? Brown gave a dismissive “sure” if they happen to cross paths, but let’s be honest, good money says those paths will conveniently remain uncrossed. Then there’s DeVonta Smith. When asked if he and Brown spoke during Wednesday’s practice, Smith’s response was just as telling, hitting like a brick: “Nah.” We’ve heard plenty of words from all sides about Brown’s final season in Philadelphia and his eventual trade to the Patriots, but it feels like these players are officially done with elaborate explanations. There truly isn’t much else to say. It’s painfully clear there was a lot of love lost over the past two seasons between these once-close teammates.
What’s Next for Philly and Brown
Now, Brown gets his chance to start fresh, to be the star of his own story with the Patriots. For Hurts and Smith, this is their moment to prove they have absolutely everything they need to win in Philly. The air is clear, the message delivered. It’s on them now to show what they’re truly made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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