For three years, A.J. Brown was the crown jewel of Ryan Tannehill’s passing attack with the Tennessee Titans. As a rookie, the Pro Bowl wideout averaged more than 20 yards per catch as Tannehill enjoyed the most efficient season of his career.
In the two years that followed, Brown emerged as the top target for a Titans team that ruled the AFC South. But rather than ink the budding star to a nine-figure contract extension, then-general manager Jon Robinson opted to trade him to the Philadelphia Eagles instead. Brown and Tannehill parted ways, not to meet again until … Week 13 of the 2022 NFL season when Tennessee traveled to Philly for a battle between division leaders.
The result was an unfortunate one for Tennessee. Brown roasted his old team for eight catches, 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 35-10 win so ugly both teams threw their backup QBs into the game with roughly 10 minutes remaining. So when Tannehill and Brown reunited at midfield after the game, the veteran passer had a question for his former huckleberry.
“Why’d you have to do it like that?”
.@ryantannehill1 to @1kalwaysopen_ after Sunday's game…
"Why'd you have to do it like that?" 😂 (via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/mugIawqz0M
— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2022
“You know I got to do something,” Brown replied, smiling.
Tannehill kept his spirits up despite the mollywhopping, playfully chiding his former teammate for being too good. Brown’s presence is sorely missed in a passing offense that currently ranks 30th in passing yards and has only 12 touchdowns through the air in 12 games. While rookie Treylon Burks, the player selected with the first round draft pick Tennessee acquired for dealing Brown away, has come on strong lately he also missed the bulk of Sunday’s game after suffering a head injury while hauling in a first quarter touchdown.
Despite the loss, the Titans remain in the driver’s seat for another division title. Whether they’ll be able to turn that into a postseason run remains on if someone can step into Brown’s old role and infuse some new life to an old-school offense.
