Hollywood Brown aims for reset with Eagles
Punter Braden Mann is focusing on process; RB Dameon Pierce is ready to fight for a spot
From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2ubd6btw
PHILADELPHIA — Wide receiver Hollywood Brown smiled at the podium. Fresh start. Fast offense. A quarterback who can stretch the field.
“I’m excited,” Brown said Thursday as the Eagles introduced him after the sides reached a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million. “I feel like this is the perfect place for me.”
The Eagles think so too.
Brown, a veteran receiver known for his speed, arrives as a complementary piece in an offense that already features A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The role is clear: Take the top off of defenses, create space, finish plays.
“I just want to win,” Brown said at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. “However that looks, I’m with it.”
He spoke calmly, but with an edge. Opportunity has followed him. Consistency hasn’t always.
That’s part of the bet here.
Brown, 28, has flashed big-play ability throughout his career. He’s been a deep threat, a field-tilter. He posted a 1,008-yard season in 2021 and has averaged more than 13 yards per catch as a pro. But injuries and unstable situations have kept him from settling in one place long enough to fully deliver.
Now he steps into a system built for timing and explosion, with quarterback Jalen Hurts pushing the ball downfield.
“I’ve watched how they play,” Brown said. “Explosive. Physical. That’s me.”
The Eagles don’t need him to be the guy. That may be the point. With defenses focused on the top targets, Brown could see favorable matchups — one-on-one with space to run.
“If I get my chances,” he said, “I’m going to make the most of them.”
Brown also talked about fit. About culture. About a locker room that expects to contend.
“You can feel it,” he said. “The standard is high.”
That matters. The Eagles are not rebuilding. They are layering. Brown is one layer.
Braden Mann doesn’t deal in flash. His job is distance, hang time and placement. Quiet work that swings field position.
Still, he understands the stakes.
“Every rep matters,” Mann, the Eagles’ recently re-signed punter, said during his Thursday news conference. “You can change a game with one punt.”
He did that often last season.
Mann finished 2025 with 72 punts and a 49.9-yard average, one of the better marks in the league. He also dropped 20 inside the 20-yard line, a number that reflects control more than power.
That’s what the Eagles want. Not just distance, but precision.
“Coach talks about hidden yards,” Mann said. “That’s what we’re chasing.”
The punter spoke about consistency, about routine. Specialists live there. Same steps, same swing. same results.
“You’ve got to be the same guy every day,” he said.
Mann, 28, has carved out a role by doing just that. Drafted by the Jets in 2020, he spent three years with New York and had a cup of coffee with the Pittsburgh Steelers before landing in Philadelphia. Now, with a four-year, $14 million extension, he returns with long-term expectations.
Special teams can tilt games in January. The Eagles know that. So does Mann.
“It’s about flipping the field, giving the defense an edge,” he said.
No noise. Just work.
Dameon Pierce entered with a different tone. Running backs always do. There’s urgency in the way they speak. Carries are limited. Time is shorter.
“I’m ready to go,” Pierce said. “Whatever they need.”
The Eagles signed Pierce to a one-year deal, adding depth to a crowded backfield. He joins a backfield that already includes Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and Carson Steele. There will be competition.
Pierce has lived that life.
A fourth-round pick out of Florida in 2022, he broke out as a rookie with 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries. At 5-foot-10, 215 pounds, he ran hard, broke tackles, earned touches.
The years since have been uneven.
He ran for 416 yards in 2023 and 293 in 2024. Most recently was on Chiefs’ practice squad after being waived by Houston in November
Now he gets another shot.
“Every day’s an opportunity,” Pierce said. “You don’t take that for granted.”
He talked about physicality. About finishing runs. About earning trust.
“Run hard. Protect the ball. Do your job,” he said.
Simple words. Hard business.
The Eagles don’t need Pierce to carry the offense. They need reliability. Depth. A runner who can step in and keep the system moving.
Pierce believes he can be that.
“I’ve shown what I can do,” he said. “Now it’s about doing it here.”
NOTES: The Eagles signed tight end Stone Scott to a one-year contract. In four seasons between the Chargers and Jets, he has 38 receptions for 432 yards and a touchdown. … The Minnesota Vikings re-signed former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, adding depth to a group that includes J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray and Max Brosmer. … Former Eagles running back Boston Scott announced his retirement. In six seasons here from 2018-2023, he rushed for 1,295 yards and 16 TDS on 302 carries. He also spent time on the practice squads of the Saints, Rams and Steelers.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.