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Running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts had a meeting with wide receiver A.J. Brown after the Philadelphia Eagles were handed their first defeat (21-17) of this season by the Denver Broncos. At least, that’s what they said. Because Brown apparently has no recollection of a meeting taking place.

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“A.J. Brown asked about the meeting with Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley this week, repeatedly says he didn’t recall any meeting,” Mike Garafolo wrote on X. “When told Hurts and Barkley confirmed it, he says you’d have to talk to them. As for the #Eagles’ offense: “We’re still trying to find our identity.”

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What he said about the offense was likely more of a message to Nick Sirianni, who has a lot to figure out after back-to-back losses. As for the alleged conversation, Barkley insisted that it was nothing controversial.

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“That wasn’t a players’ meeting,” the RB revealed. “When you hear ‘players’ meeting,’ it’s like all hell is breaking loose. It wasn’t that at all. Also, we’re teammates, we’re all friends, and we’re just having a conversation. We have conversations all the time,” Barkley said. “In that instance, it was us three. But I’ve talked to (DeVonta Smith). Smitty talks to AJ. Lane (Johnson) talks to Jordan (Mailata).”

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Barkley also clarified that he wouldn’t be discussing what the discussion was about.

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That explains why Brown didn’t seem interested in addressing it. “I don’t know what you guys are talking about,” he said. But what caught attention was the rumor of tension between the three players and the issues with the offense.

Brown has had issues with the lack of targets. He recorded five receptions for 43 yards against the Broncos and six receptions for 80 yards against the Giants. Overall, he has just one touchdown across his last six games. Overall, the Eagles’ offense has struggled this season, putting up only 274.5 yards per game, which is ranked 29th in the league.

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In case the rumors are true, that doesn’t bode well for Nick Sirianni’s team at all.

Nick Sirianni dismissed the locker room drama rumors

For coach Sirianni, it was important to dismiss all the rumors as he defended his players.

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“You know, obviously communication with all of us is so important—to be able to talk,” Sirianni said. “Whether that’s coaches to players, players to coaches, or players to players. I would say they do a good job talking and figuring things out, whether that’s in the building or in a game.”

No matter what Sirianni says, it will take time for these rumors to go away, given the comments some of the Eagles players have made of late. When asked about why the Eagles’ offense has been struggling this season, Jalen Hurts’ reply seemed like a veiled attack on offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

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“It’s like having all the same ingredients, but having a different chef in the kitchen,” he said. “I think that’s what it’s kind of been for us over the years. You can have the same ingredients, and somebody can make the same dish, and it tastes different.”

Perhaps the only way to quash the rumors for good is to get back to winning ways.

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Saubhagya Mukherjee

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