A.J. Brown caught three passes on 10 targets in his Patriots home debut against the New York Jets as New England won 26-19 at Gillette Stadium, Boston.com reported.
Brown returned after missing four games with a high ankle sprain. Boston.com reported that he had three drops against the Jets, a total that potentially negated two Patriots touchdowns.
Drake Maye said he wished he had delivered better opportunities to Brown, while Brown said his ankle felt fine during the game and that he was preparing for New England’s Thursday matchup in Chicago.
A.J. Brown Patriots debut drew a measured response from Drake Maye
Maye addressed Brown’s performance after the Patriots’ seven-point victory. The quarterback said Brown’s standing as a player remained part of how he viewed the game, saying, “I mean, it’s A.J. Brown.”
Maye also took responsibility for some of the passing opportunities that did not produce a completion. “Last week is what it is. I wish I had some throws back and attempts I targeted his way,” he said.
That comment covered both the throws and the decisions to target Brown. His statement gave Brown’s three-catch, 10-target line context through the quarterback’s own assessment of the passing game.
Boston.com also reported that Maye had thrown 10 touchdowns and one interception over his previous three games. Those numbers represented the recent production surrounding the quarterback before New England’s short-week matchup with Chicago.
Brown’s return came in a game New England won 26-19 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots’ result gave the team a win even as Brown worked through his first game back from the ankle injury.
Brown said his ankle felt fine after the Patriots home debut
Brown described the central difficulty of his return in direct terms. “I think that was the hardest part, you know, getting open. I just didn’t make the play,” he said.
Boston.com reported the three drops and their potential effect on two scoring opportunities. Brown’s own explanation focused on finishing plays after getting into position to make them.
Brown also said he had moved past the performance after reviewing it. “I’m not really going backwards because it’s over with now. You know, I watched the film, I put it to bed and I’m looking forward,” Brown said.
He said his ankle felt fine during the game and that he was preparing for Thursday’s matchup. That marked the next scheduled test for Brown after his first appearance since the four-game absence caused by the high ankle sprain.
The Patriots’ 26-19 victory over the Jets therefore included both Brown’s return and his stated intention to move forward from the performance. His receiving line, the reported drops and his comments about the ankle were all tied to the same first game back.
Patriots receiver depth is a factor before the Chicago game
Boston.com reported that Romeo Doubs had landed on injured reserve, leaving four wide receivers on New England’s 53-man roster. The reported roster count came before the Patriots’ trip to Chicago.
Doubs’ injured-reserve placement changed the number of wide receivers available on the 53-man roster to four, according to Boston.com. That figure provides the roster context around Brown’s return and the short preparation period before the next game.
New England entered the Chicago matchup after Maye’s reported run of 10 touchdown passes and one interception across three games. The quarterback had also publicly said he wished he had some throws and targeted attempts back from the Jets game.
Brown’s comments addressed both parts of his return: he said getting open was difficult to finish, and he said his ankle felt fine during the contest. He then said he had watched the film, put the performance behind him and was looking ahead.
New England was scheduled to face the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, four days after its 26-19 win over the Jets.
