Weddle on Eagles WR: ‘They don’t care’

Former Rams safety Eric Weddle talks about A.J. Brown’s sideline reading in wild card win

A.J. Brown had one of the least productive games of his career during the Eagles’ 22-10 win over the Packers in the wild card round, finishing with only one catch for 10 yards on three targets, but Philadelphia will host the L.A. Rams in the next round. The receiver may have still been the NFL’s star of the weekend though for being seen reading a book on the sidelines that has since shot to number one on Amazon.

But was the moment inspirational, funny, or a sign that the Eagles receivers are more concerned with getting the ball than winning a playoff game? Former Rams safety Eric Weddle said on a podcast this week that Brown and the other Eagles receivers appeared to care more about their stats than the fact that they would be hosting a divisional playoff game the next week.

Appearing on The Coach JB Show on Monday, Weddle says that if he had a bad playoff game that yes he would be mad, but he wouldn’t care as long as the team was winning.

“Look at these guys when they don’t get the ball, how they don’t care. You’re onto the divisional round, you’re going to host a playoff game in the next round, you don’t care at this moment. It doesn’t matter how — I could give up three touchdowns, would I be pissed? Yes. But would I care? No! I’m getting ready for the next game, let’s go be great, like it don’t matter. And these guys.”

Just before saying they don’t care, Weddle noted a route by Brown that made no sense to him, whether that was on Brown or if he was coached to do it that way:

“They ran a shallow with a 10-yard sit and (the broadcast) highlighted A.J. Brown, I’m like no wonder he’s not getting the ball. What kind of route is that?”

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts went 13-of-21 for 131 yards in the contest and Philadelphia’s other starting receiver, DeVonta Smith, had four catches for 55 yards. Some speculate that Smith also seemed disinterested while on the bench next to Brown while he was reading.

But Weddle walks back his comments a little bit at the end, while not entirely absolving Brown of his apparent lack of interest in winning a playoff game.

“I don’t think A.J. Brown was out of line, per se. I get receivers mentality, they want the ball, they want to feel they impacted the game. I get all that. At the end of the day, it’s more about how you handle yourself throughout the game…The reality is Hurts is struggling throwing the ball for whatever reason.”

The Eagle host the Rams on Sunday at noon.