The Dallas Cowboys have had precious few moments to point at the rival Philadelphia Eagles and laugh during the duration of the 2025 season, but the continued refusal to get star wide receiver A.J. Brown involved in offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s offense has been the subject of league-wide mockery.
Brown hasn’t looked right all season, and the Eagles have seemingly gone out of their way to avoid making him a featured part of their offense. Even against Dallas’ pitiful secondary, Brown only managed one catch, and it came at the very end of the contest.
Brown, who has just 408 yards and three touchdowns on the season, has seemingly accepted the fact that he is going to put together some below-average numbers for the remainder of the campaign. Brown told fantasy football managers who have him on their teams to drop him. Could this be the predecessor to a trade? Brown certainly is not someone who hides his true feelings.
If the Eagles somehow manage to fumble a key piece of what could be a dynastic run by hiring a clueless offensive coordinator who is unable to maximize him, the Cowboys should count their lucky stars that Philly proverbially shot themselves in the leg to such a sharp degree.
Not only has Devonta Smith seemingly leapfrogged Brown (who is posting the lowest yards per game numbers of his career) on the depth chart, but he is also behind tight end Dallas Goedert in receptions. There’s no way Brown has had that quick of a physical decline.
While Jalen Hurts has only thrown one interception on the season, that is a result of this passing attack being extremely conservative. With Saquon Barkley failing to capture his 2024 glory days, this offense is so sluggish that even the Cowboys held their own against it.
While it might be a bit before Dallas is able to put together a roster that can make Philadelphia really start to sweat atop the NFC East, losing Brown at a time when there are not very many star wide receivers available to replace him might be the fatal blow that truly knocks this offense down a peg.
Even though the notoriously moody Brown is in the middle of a big contract that might be difficult to move, one should never underestimate the ability of a top wide receiver to pitch a fit and eventually find his way into the trade market.
After a week of seemingly no injuries, the Baltimore Ravens are once again dealing with some wounds on the offensive and defensive sides of the football. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was the center of attention on Wednesday after missing practice with knee soreness, but Head Coach John Harbaugh made it quite clear that he should be ready for Sunday, and could be back as soon as Thursday.
The most significant blow for now is the injury to cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Humphrey played through a finger injury in Baltimore’s Week 10 win over the Minnesota Vikings, and it clearly ailed him throughout the contest. Following Wednesday’s practice, Harbaugh confirmed that Humphrey would be out for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
The minor finger procedure should not keep him out too much longer, and a return in Week 12 should be in the cards. However, it puts the spotlight on the team’s cornerback depth headed into their Week 11 matchup. They are looking to extend their winning streak to four games in Cleveland, and the Browns’ passing attack has been lackluster under rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, they still have weapons that can give Baltimore’s pass coverage fits.
Tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. are the main two receiving options the Ravens need to watch out for, but wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman are capable of causing problems, as well. That makes veteran corner Chidobe Awuzie’s performance in Week 11 key.
Awuzie has been a strong starting piece on the outside opposite of second-year corner Nate Wiggins in 2025. After signing with the team in the offseason on a one-year, $1.255 million deal, Awuzie has been exactly what the Ravens need.
Since the acquisition of safety Alohi Gilman, Awuzie has taken a bit of a backseat, but has still been a key contributor in Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s secondary. In seven games, he has registered a 73.7 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus. That mark ranks 12th in the NFL among 109 qualifying cornerbacks, and his 76.1 coverage is fifth-best.
Awuzie will likely be back in the starting unit with Humphrey out. He has quietly made his presence known all season, but with him taking on a larger role in Cleveland, he has the perfect chance to cement his claim as the steal of this past offseason.
Harbaugh talked about what Awuzie brings to the defense following Wednesday’s practice.
“Chido’s been doing great. He’s been playing really well, and he’s a pro,” Harbaugh said. “He knows how to play…Sometimes you play so well, you don’t get noticed because nothing happens, especially at corner. I thought he played great, and I’m sure glad he’s on our team.”
Awuzie played a huge part in locking down Minnesota’s wide receiver duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and there should be bigger things in store for him on Sunday against the Browns.