AJ Brown spoke to reporters after practice on Thursday to talk about the relationship between him and fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to have one of the NFL’s best WR duos in 2023 but Brown is tired of hearing questions about whether Smith is a true No. 1 wide receiver.
Who Is The Eagles No. 1 WR?
Brown has developed an unmistakable connection with quarterback Jalen Hurts. After being acquired by Philadelphia last season, Brown had the best season of his NFL career, catching 88 passes for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns. All three of those were career-high marks.
Despite Brown being the de facto No. 1 WR, Smith came to Philadelphia with an impressive resume of his own. The former Heisman Trophy winner was a top-10 pick in his own right and is coming off of his first 1,000-yard season.
Smith finished 2022 with 95 receptions for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns, improving in all three categories compared to his rookie campaign.
Smith Acknowledges Friendly Competition With Brown
While Smith is far from jealous of Brown, he didn’t shy away from the fact that the two are competing and will ultimately be measured against one another.
“I wouldn’t say we are competitive,” Smith said. “I would say we are stacking up against each other. We both go out there excited for one another. If one makes a play the other is like I gotta be right there with ya. I can’t have you out here, playing by yourself and doing it all. I need to get in on the action.”
However, Brown doesn’t want reporters to get the wrong idea.
Instead, he wants Eagles fans to simply appreciate the wide receiver duo while they are still in Philadelphia. Brown is in the second year of a four-year, $100 million contract extension. Meanwhile, Smith’s rookie deal runs through the end of the 2024 season.
Check out what Brown had to say below.
