A.J. Brown of the New England Patriots said on Oct. 23 that there is no time to ease into the Patriots offense. Boston.com reported that Brown has nine catches for 101 yards and no touchdowns through his first three games with New England.
Brown said the adjustment cannot take priority over producing immediately. “I guess you can say that,” Brown said when asked whether his first two games involved acclimating to the offense. “But, there’s no time for that. Everybody is in whatever week it is and I’m in Week 3 coming up. There’s no time for that.”
The comments came after Brown improved his receiving output against the Chicago Bears, though his three-game totals remain below the level associated with his previous production. Boston.com reported that New England needs more from its veteran wide receiver as the Patriots move through the season.
A.J. Brown’s Patriots stats against the Bears
Brown caught three passes for 48 yards on six targets against Chicago, according to Boston.com. That represented an increase from his return against the New York Jets, when he caught three of 10 targets.
One incompletion against the Bears came on a deep pass involving Chicago defensive back Malik Muhammad II. Boston.com reported that Muhammad reached around Brown’s body and placed an arm over the receiver’s arm before the ball bounced off Brown’s other hand.
Brown said he did not know whether Muhammad interfered with him on the play. He also said Chicago tried to take him out of the game, a defensive approach he described as familiar for a player who regularly draws attention.
“I’m a vet. I know how the game goes,” Brown said, according to Boston.com. “It’s just kind of how the game is. I know what type of player I am and I know that’s always the case.”
Brown said defensive attention can create opportunities for other players while requiring him to capitalize when the ball comes his way. “When I line up I get a lot of attention, teams try to take me away and that gives a lot of opportunities for other guys to make plays and soften things up for me,” he said. “When I get my shots, I’ve got to make them.”
Brown returned against the Jets after a high-ankle sprain
Boston.com reported that Brown missed four games with a high-ankle sprain before returning against the Jets as soon as he was eligible. He said he feels great physically after the absence.
The return came in New England’s victory over New York, followed by the Patriots’ loss to Chicago, according to Boston.com. Brown said he was happy with the win against the Jets but viewed the Bears game as an opportunity to identify areas for improvement.
“We won last week and I was excited, happy that we got the win,” Brown said. “This week, I’m not down or anything but there’s just stuff we can improve on.”
Boston.com also placed Brown’s early Patriots production in historical context. The report noted that Brown had 109 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3 last season, more than his total through three games with New England. When Brown played for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Bears last season, he had 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
What Brown says he needs to do next
Brown said his approach is to keep working rather than wait for the offense to become comfortable. “I’ve just got to keep grinding and put my best foot forward, try to make plays, and get going,” he said.
Boston.com reported that Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins were on injured reserve while Brown continued working to find his rhythm. The report also said much of New England’s passing production against Chicago came from running backs and tight ends.
Brown credited offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with trying to involve him against the Bears. His immediate focus, according to Boston.com, was recovering over the weekend before returning to preparation. “Just focused on this weekend, getting my body right and we’ll get to Monday when we get to Monday,” Brown said.
