Watch: Eagles' A.J. Brown makes hug-worthy catch at recent practice

Over the years, the Eagles have struggled to bring in dynamic receivers. DeVonta played well as a rookie in 2021, but players like Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Mack Hollins never caught on in Philadelphia, frustrating a fanbase that watched their team pass on the Vikings' Justin Jefferson in 2020.

Brown made the Pro Bowl last year, becoming the first Eagles receiver to do so since Jeremy Maclin in 2014. Brown led the team with 1,496 yards in 2022. Prior to that, DeSean Jackson was the last Eagles receiver to top 1,000 yards when he caught 82 balls for 1,332 yards in 2013.

Technically, Smith also had a big year with 1,196 yards in 2022, but Brown might deserve credit for at least some of those yards. 

At 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds, Brown commands a lot of attention from opposing defenses. He’s a safe bet to draw double coverage and/or a team’s top cornerback, which opens the field for other receivers.

As training camp winds down, it was nice to see the five-year veteran get a hug on the sidelines, especially since it came from his young daughter for whom he wears the initials JB (Jersee Brown) on his chain. 

Earlier in camp, Brown tried to interact with another young fan during the team’s Military Appreciation Day and nearly scared the poor kid to death. Soon he’ll get to scare Jonathan Jones, Christian Gonzalez and the rest of New England’s secondary when the Eagles travel to Foxborough, Mass., to open the regular season on Sept. 10.