A.J. Brown returned to the New England Patriots on Oct. 18 after five weeks away, catching three passes in a 26-19 win over the New York Jets. He drew 10 targets but finished with 27 yards, according to Pats Pulpit.
Brown had been placed on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. His return restored a prominent part of the Patriots’ passing attack, but his first game back included at least two drops and several missed connections with quarterback Drake Maye.
New England continued to feature Brown despite the uneven production. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels included him throughout the game plan, and Maye frequently looked toward Brown as a first read. The A.J. Brown Patriots return showed that his role remains significant while his timing with Maye continues to develop.
A.J. Brown Patriots Return Produces 10 Targets but Just 27 Yards
Brown’s target volume indicated that the Patriots did not bring him back in a limited role. Pats Pulpit reported that McDaniels continued to create opportunities for the receiver, including a deep pass and a third-down slant that did not become completions.
One missed deep opportunity stood out in the evaluation of Brown’s return. Pats Pulpit characterized the play as a potential 61-yard touchdown, but Brown did not complete the catch and the Patriots did not receive those yards or points.
Brown also dropped at least one other pass, according to Pats Pulpit. He accepted responsibility for the missed opportunities after the game.
“No excuses,” Brown said, according to Pats Pulpit. “I expect myself to make each and every one of those plays. The drop, the other drop on third down, on the slant — I am more than capable of making those catches. I’ll be better, that’s all.”
The third-down miss added to the frustration around the return. Maye’s pass did not connect with Brown on the slant, and New England settled for a field goal on the possession.
Head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that Brown left plays on the field while maintaining confidence in the receiver’s ability to contribute.
“I thought [Brown] could have probably made a few more plays,” Vrabel said, according to Pats Pulpit. Vrabel also said Brown held high expectations for himself and expressed confidence that the receiver would help the Patriots throughout the season.
Maye and Brown Still Have Room to Build
The Patriots’ passing game produced another difficult moment for Brown on a late onside kick. Pats Pulpit reported that Brown dropped the kick before Corey Kiner and Eli Raridon recovered it for New England.
Maye placed the responsibility for the developing connection on both the quarterback and receiver rather than treating the performance as a long-term concern. He said Brown’s return was important and that the two players would continue working on their timing.
“It was great to see [Brown] back out there,” Maye said, according to Pats Pulpit. “I’m looking forward to him growing and just building that connection.”
Maye also said he planned to continue throwing to Brown after the uneven debut.
“I told him I’m going to keep coming his way,” Maye said, according to Pats Pulpit. “He was open tonight. I thought he looked good. I’m just glad to have him back, and I’m looking forward to seeing him down the road.”
That continued involvement mattered because Brown’s presence affected how the Jets handled the Patriots’ passing attack. Pats Pulpit connected the attention drawn by Brown to Romeo Doubs’ 42-yard touchdown reception, another indication that Brown’s influence was not limited to his own statistics.
Why the Patriots Continue to Feature Brown
Brown’s return gave New England a prominent outside target even though the final line was modest. The 10 targets were more important than the three catches in showing how McDaniels and Maye treated him within the offense.
Vrabel said the Patriots would continue trying to put their best players in position to make plays. He also emphasized that Brown needed to complete the opportunities that came his way, while Maye needed to recognize when the defense took away a particular option.
Brown’s teammates also backed his ability to rebound from the drops. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez dismissed the significance of the missed catches and said Brown would return to his usual level.
“Those couple of drops don’t really mean anything,” Gonzalez said, according to Pats Pulpit. “He’s going to get back to himself and do what he does.”
The Patriots’ 26-19 victory provided the broader result, but Brown’s return left a more complicated individual evaluation. He was involved throughout the game, had opportunities to produce more and accepted responsibility for the missed plays.
For New England, the next step is not to determine whether Brown belongs in the offense. His usage already answered that question. The focus is on converting the opportunities that McDaniels creates and continuing to build the connection Maye identified after the Patriots vs. Jets matchup. More background on that relationship is available in this look at A.J. Brown’s developing chemistry with Drake Maye.
