Hollywood Brown’s departure from the Philadelphia Eagles includes more than a change of scenery. The veteran receiver requested his release, and the sides agreed to a non-injury settlement that will provide Philadelphia financial relief, ESPN’s Tim McManus said.
The report adds context to Brown’s previously reported exit after a limited role during the first half of the season. Jordan Schultz first reported the move. Brown signed a one-year, $5 million contract during the offseason, but a significant opportunity never developed. He appeared in four games, making one start, and caught five passes for 63 yards on eight targets. All five receptions resulted in first downs, according to McManus.
Brown’s release agreement provides Eagles financial relief
The settlement gives Philadelphia some financial relief,
although the amount was not disclosed in McManus’ report. That leaves the precise savings and any remaining salary-cap implications unresolved. Brown’s request also reflects a receiving-room situation that never developed as anticipated. Philadelphia added him as part of its effort to reshape the passing game following the A.J. Brown trade, but even injuries elsewhere at receiver did not produce a substantial workload.
The 29-year-old acknowledged in October that he expected to play more when he joined the Eagles. Still, he maintained that he was not taking the circumstances personally.
“Of course, you want to be somewhere where you play, but at the end of the day, it’s not my plan,” Brown said, according to ESPN.
Eagles expect injured receivers to return
Philadelphia’s willingness to move forward also reflects its outlook at the position. According to McManus, the Eagles are comfortable with the decision as DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks approach their return from injury, while Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper have emerged as options.
That does not establish a return date for either injured receiver. It does explain why Philadelphia was willing to accommodate Brown’s request despite its offensive struggles. Brown had 49 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns with Kansas City last season, production that made him an intriguing offseason addition. His Philadelphia tenure never approached that level of involvement.
For the Eagles, the move closes an unsuccessful experiment while creating room for the remaining receivers to handle the work. For Brown, it offers a chance to pursue a bigger role elsewhere after spending much of his time in Philadelphia waiting for one.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Hollywood Brown sought Eagles exit after limited role in passing game
