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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was spotted reading a book on the sideline during the second half of Philadelphia’s 22-10 wild-card-round win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, and that generated some questions.
What was the book? Why was he reading it during the game? Was it a sign of frustration because he had just one catch for 10 yards on three targets?
Brown answered them one by one after the victory.
The book is “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy, written to “train your mind for extraordinary performance and the best possible life.” Brown said he brings the book to every game; this is just the first time cameras caught him reading it, he said. He has highlighted passages that he said help bring him a sense of peace. And no, he wasn’t reading it because he was discontented.
“I wasn’t frustrated at all. I figured that’s what y’all probably thought,” Brown said. “Why do you always think I be frustrated? Dang. I like to read.”
Brown went on to social media to further explain why reading during games works for him.
“I use it to refocus and lock in despite what may transpire in the game good or bad,” he wrote. “People tend to create controversy when they don’t know the truth.”
The workweek was not without its challenges. Brown was limited Wednesday and missed Thursday’s practice as he managed a knee issue. He acknowledged he entered the game against the Packers “banged up” but spoke optimistically about the injury afterward, saying, “I definitely feel like I’m turning the corner. I came out of the game healthy.”
With Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts missing the past two games because of a concussion and both Brown and DeVonta Smith (back tightness) sidelined for parts of the week, the passing game struggled to get into rhythm against the Pack. At one point, Hurts went 90 minutes between completed passes. He managed only 39 yards on just 6-of-13 passing heading into the latter stages of the third quarter before going 3-of-3 for 61 yards on a scoring drive, which was capped by a stiff-arm-fueled 24-yard catch and run for a touchdown by tight end Dallas Goedert.
“I’m pretty sure he wishes he could get some plays back. I’m sure we all can say that,” Brown said of Hurts. “But for the most part, he handled the game. He didn’t have any turnovers. We got the win, most importantly.”
The Eagles will host the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend. It’s safe to say Brown will have a copy of the book at the ready.
“I’ve never seen him read [on the sideline]; I’ve seen the book in his hands,” Hurts said. “Everybody has a different thing and finds their flow in different ways. That’s how he chooses to do it.”