The Philadelphia Eagles have released wide receiver Hollywood Brown following a mutual agreement on a non-injury settlement, according to ESPN’s Tim McManus. Brown’s departure comes after limited involvement in the Eagles’ offense and the imminent return of injured receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, reducing the team’s need for his services.
Brown appeared in only four games this season, starting once and recording five receptions from eight targets. All five catches resulted in first downs, totaling 63 yards, while he also contributed 12 rushing yards on two attempts. Despite a one-year, $5 million contract signed in the offseason, Brown struggled to carve out a significant role in an offense dealing with various injuries and inconsistent production.
The Eagles brought Brown in to help fill the void left by A.J. Brown, who was traded to the New England Patriots earlier this year. However, the veteran’s impact was minimal, as the team’s wide receiver group shifted with Makai Lemon emerging as a leading contributor. Lemon has led the Eagles in receiving yards over the past three weeks and currently tops the team with 312 yards. Darius Cooper remains another option in the receiver corps.
Brown, now 29, has played for five different teams since entering the NFL in 2019. His career includes stints with the Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens, totaling 94 games with 73 starts. Over his career, he has amassed 376 receptions for 4,385 yards and 33 touchdowns. Last season with the Chiefs, Brown caught 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns over 16 games.
In October, Brown addressed his limited playing time with the Eagles, reflecting on how he handled the situation. “I wouldn’t have handled it well as a younger guy,” he said during a media session late last month. “It’s God’s plan, and the more I got comfortable with that, I can’t be mad about a situation because maybe that’s not what God called for. Of course, you want to be somewhere where you play, but at the end of the day, it’s not my plan.”
The Eagles have faced ongoing struggles on offense this season, compounded by injuries to key players. The anticipated returns of Smith and Wicks are expected to bolster the receiving unit in the coming weeks. The release of Brown offers the team some financial relief as they adjust their roster ahead of the final stretch of the season.
Brown’s departure leaves the Eagles with a receiving group led by Lemon and Cooper, along with the returning Smith and Wicks, as they seek to improve their offensive production. The team has not announced any immediate plans to replace Brown.
According to CBS.
