Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Devonta Smith. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Eagles star makes curious comment about offensive play calls

By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Oct 4, 2025 10:51 AM ET

On Friday, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith defended fellow wideout A.J. Brown for being dissatisfied with the offense through the first four games of the 2025 season.

Smith made a curious comment while supporting Brown, saying Eagles receivers could only do so much with the "play calls" they get against certain defensive coverages.

"Everybody handled things differently," Smith said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "I control what I can control. The play calls we're getting are the play calls. The coverages we're getting are the coverages. Sometimes things don't work out the way we want it to, and that's just that."

There have been frustrations with the offense in Philadelphia under first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Smith appears to be pointing out that the product on the field isn't the result of players' efforts as much as what players are being asked to do.

Smith on how he handles it: "Everybody handled things differently. I control what I can control. The play calls we're getting are the play calls. The coverages we're getting are the coverages. Sometimes things don't work out the way we want it to, and that's just that." https://t.co/CKN4yvI2gu
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) October 3, 2025

Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith wants offense to be better

Smith shares Brown's sentiments about the team's offensive struggles.

"He's a great leader," Smith said. "He wants what's best for the team. Things aren't necessarily going our way offensively. I don't think nothing wrong with him wanting better in that situation. I certainly feel the same way. Offensively, we need to be better."

Despite the sluggishness in the passing game, the Eagles are 4-0 and enjoy a two-game lead in the NFC East over the Washington Commanders.

Philadelphia will have a challenge in the passing game for its Week 5 contest at home against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards per game (186) so far this season.

Jordan Sigler

Jordan Sigler is a sports writer with a decade of experience as a journalist, including his time as a breaking news/day cops reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. His sports coverage across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and college football world has also been featured at ChiCitySports, Gridiron Heroics, Pro Football Network, and Athlon Sports. Based in Austin, Texas, Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2014

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