The Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. Sunday produced another quiet performance from one of the game's star wide receivers, Second-Team All-Pro A.J. Brown.
You know... Sort of...
Brown had just one catch on three targets, resulting in just ten receiving yards receiving. That's a season low, but that isn't what everyone is discussing about him at the moment.
Despite his minimal usage in the game, he's still mentioned as one of the takeaways because of something that has sparked social media discussions.
"Is A.J. Brown reading a book?"
Yes, you read that right. Those are the words of Barstool's Dan "Big Cat" Katz after Brown was seen on the sideline reading a book as the time trickled away during the fourth quarter.
Is AJ Brown reading a book?
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 13, 2025
To answer his question... Yes... A.J. Brown was, in fact, reading a book on the sideline.
AJ Brown did some reading on the sideline 🤣 pic.twitter.com/RoZ8GbvJV4
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) January 13, 2025
The FOX Broadcast shows Brown thumbing through Inner Excellence, a book written by Jim Murphy. According to its website the book is a "manual filled with tools and techniques to train your heart and mind."
"It gives me a sense of peace," Brown said after the game, "That's a book that I bring to every single game... For me, this game is mental..."
Hey, it's better than some of the alternatives that take place in the NFL. The throwing of film tablets, verbal altercations between teammates, and even storming off the field. See Antonio Brown as an example of that last example.
In all seriousness, Brown mentions the book as a tool he uses to better himself. His work goals? He wants to help Philadelphia win another Super Bowl.
The real question remains... Is Brown's underwhelming performance something to worry about? We can be certain that will be a topic of discussion.
We aren't fearful. A.J. Brown will be just fine.
Despite entering the game with a knee injury, there’s no need to worry about Brown’s long-term production or usage. "I felt really good," Brown told reporters after the game. "I was moving around really well—it didn’t show in the stats, but I did a lot today."
The knee injury is something Brown has been dealing with all season. He briefly left the game in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he returned with a strong performance in the following game, a five-catch, 109-yard showing against the Dallas Cowboys.
Brown won't be ignored during the entire postseason. Dallas Goedert hauled in four catches for 47 yards and scored a touchdown in the Wild Card win. The important thing is Philly earned the win.
The Eagles will find out who their next opponent is on Monday night once the outcome of the Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams is learned, but one thing is certain. Expect A.J. Brown to be more involved in the coming weeks.