PHILADELPHIA — It’s too early to bang the drum for the Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy of playmakers A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill, but assuming Julio Jones suits up for the Eagles, three elite wide receiver talents will take the field Sunday night when the Eagles entertain the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field.
Oh, Hill’s check-in this weekend won’t amp up the competitor in Brown.
“Not at all,” Brown said. “Tyreek is a really special receiver. I think he’s probably the most explosive player in this league. If you don’t cover him, he’ll change the game. But I don’t worry about none of that stuff. I’m trying to win games. I’m trying to put my team in position to win, so I’m trying to score touchdowns. Hats off to him. He’s a really great player. We’ve got a handful.”
Hard as it is to believe Brown won’t be stoked to play a leading role in prime time in the Who’s Who of contemporary receivers reunion, there’s a lot to wrap your arms around. Hill is in a class by himself. He leads the NFL with 814 receiving yards, putting him on pace for 2,306 yards, which would shatter Calvin “Megatron” Johnson’s single-season record of 1,964 receiving yards set in 2012.
With 86 receiving yards against the Eagles, Hill would be the first player in 62 years and fourth player ever to reach 900 receiving yards through his team’s first seven games of a season, according to NFL research.
Hill also could become the first player to record 150 receiving yards in four of his team’s first six games of a season and the fifth player to register 150 receiving yards in five games in a season. That’s the same Hall of Fame company as Tim Brown (1997) and Jerry Rice (1995).
Brown is second in the league with 672 receiving yards. He has 125 receiving yards in four straight games, the longest such streak in Eagles history. With another 125-yard game Sunday Brown would become the third player in NFL history to reach that mark in five straight games, joining Hall of Famer Johnson (2012). Pat Studstill also did it in 1966.
Beyond the receivers, the game is a smackdown between quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins and Jalen Hurts, the latter of whom has some scars from being benched in the 2018 national championship game.
You could make an argument that there will be six big-time receivers on the field Sunday by factoring in Jaylen Waddle of the Dolphins and DeVonta Smith of the Eagles. They obviously have a long way to go to reach the level of that aforementioned trio.
Meanwhile, Brown indicated Jones is the veteran presence he’s missed since they were together with the Tennessee Titans. Brown said he knew for a week that Jones would be joining the Eagles, and that there’s something to be said for having a guy on your team who has “seen it all” during his career.
“I’m a little biased,” Brown said. “He might be one of the best receivers to play the game. So, if you don’t listen to him, you’re stupid. I’m just going to call it what it is. He has a lot of knowledge. He’s great people.”
Jones, a few lockers away, conceded that Brown’s big frame, broad shoulders and ability to make amazing, contested catches reminded him of himself.
“He’s the total package,” Jones said. “The consistency, he just keeps building on that every week. He’s like a little brother to me. Anything he needs from me I’m here to give it to him. But he has all the tools and ability.”
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NOTES >> The Eagles ruled out safety Reed Blankenship (ribs) and cornerback Bradley Roby (shoulder) for their game with the Dolphins. … The Birds are 2.5-point favorites in the game featuring the top offenses in the league, the Dolphins averaging 498.7 yards, the Eagles 395 yards. … The Eagles welcome back defensive tackle Jalen Carter (ankle), cornerback Darius Slay (knee) and safety Sydney Brown, who were scratched last week. … Cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee) is out for the Dolphins, while cornerback Xavien Howard (groin) is questionable along with running back Alec Ingold (foot), cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles’ tendon) and center Connor Williams (groin).
Source: Berkshire mont