PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown was spotted reading a book on the sidelines during the second half of Philadelphia’s 22-10 wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers, raising some questions.

What kind of book was that? Why was he reading it in the game? Was it a sign of frustration that he only had one catch for 10 yards on three targets?

Brown then responded to them individually.

The book “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy was written to “train your mind for extraordinary achievements and the best life possible.” Brown said he brings the book to every single game; This was only the first time cameras caught him reading it, he said. There are passages that he highlighted that gave him a sense of peace. And no, he didn’t read it because he was dissatisfied.

“I wasn’t frustrated at all. I thought you probably all thought that,” Brown said. “Why do you always think I’m frustrated? Damned. I like reading.”

Brown took to social media to further explain why reading during the game works for him.

“I use it to refocus and hold on, regardless of what may happen, good or bad, in the game,” he wrote. “People tend to stir up controversy when they don’t know the truth.”

The work week was not without its challenges. Brown missed most of two training sessions due to a knee problem. He admitted he started the Packers’ game “struggling,” but expressed optimism about the injury afterward, saying, “I definitely feel like I’m going to turn things around.” I came out of the game healthy.”

With quarterback Jalen Hurts missing the last two games due to a concussion and both Brown and DeVonta Smith (back strains) sidelined for parts of the work week, the passing game struggled to get into rhythm against the Packers. At one point, Hurts went 90 minutes between completed passes. Early in the third quarter, he managed just 39 yards on just 6 of 13 passes before going 3 of 3 for 61 yards on a scoring drive capped by a stiff-arm powered 24-yard touchdown catch and run by tight end Dallas Goedert.

“I’m pretty sure he wishes he could get some plays back. I’m sure we can all say that,” Brown said of Hurts. “But overall he had the game under control, he didn’t lose the ball. The most important thing is that we got the win.”

The Eagles will host the divisional round of the playoffs next weekend. It’s safe to say Brown will have a copy of the book ready.

“I’ve never seen him read (on the side), I saw the book in his hands,” Hurts said. “Everyone has something different and finds their flow in different ways. So he decides to do it.”