The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into their first season following the retirement of franchise icon Jason Kelce.
Fans may have already gotten used to the fact that the future Hall-of-Fame center will no longer be taking the field, but that reality hasn’t exactly been easy for some of his Eagle teammates.
When speaking to the media at training camp practice Wednesday, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown admitted that it’s still hard to believe Kelce won’t be back for another season.”
“Don’t think it’s really hit me yet (that) he’s not out there,” Brown said, per Eagles SI’s Ed Kracz.
Brown only played with Kelce for two seasons, but it’s clear the veteran had a significant impact on the star pass-catcher. With Kelce and Fletcher Cox now gone, Brown could be expected to step up as one of the team’s most important leaders, something the Eagles desperately need following last year’s embarrassing late-season collapse.
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Brown signed a three-year, $96 million contract extension in April that has $84 million guaranteed. Last season, he finished with a career-best 106 catches to go along with 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns while DeVonta Smith posted 81 grabs for 1,066 yards and seven scores.
Life without Kelce could mean that Jalen Hurts will have less time to find his star receivers, but the Eagles have no choice but to adjust ahead of what should be an interesting season.
