New England Patriots
“My focus is just on today and trying to get better, and see how I feel after.”
A.J. Brown is getting closer and closer to a return to game action.
After missing the last four games with a high ankle sprain, the 29-year-old wide receiver has practiced the last two days — albeit in a “limited” capacity.
But could the Patriots’ star pass-catcher still get cleared to play in Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets?
Brown — speaking to reporters for the first time since suffering his injury in Week 1 against Seattle — took a cautious approach when asked about his potential availability for the matchup against New York.
“It’s still up in the air,” Brown said Thursday at Gillette Stadium. “Obviously, it’s going to be Coach Vrabel’s decision to see where I’m at and make the better decision for the long haul and not just the [short term]. My focus is just on today and trying to get better, and see how I feel after.”
Brown’s measured approach might be welcomed at this stage of the NFL calendar for New England.
A healthy Brown return might be a welcome sight for a Patriots team that seems to be hitting its stride after a rocky start to the 2026 campaign.
But Sunday is far from the ideal runway for Brown to find his footing back on the gridiron.
The Jets may not be the same punching bag as they’ve been in recent years, especially with Aaron Glenn’s defense buoyed by a dynamic talent like rookie edge rusher David Bailey.
Still, this rebuilding New York roster isn’t exactly the kind of opponent the Patriots need to put up 30-plus points against to keep pace with —especially a unit led by Geno Smith.
Beyond a lighter lift in terms of the opponent, the Patriots’ offense isn’t exactly in need of an adrenaline boost — not after the last two weeks against the Bills and Raiders.
When Brown hit the turf in Seattle with his ankle sprain, his second half exit set off a devastating domino effect for New England’s offense.
Once Brown was pulled from that Week 1 game, New England’s last five drives against Seattle only led to 93 yards off of 32 total plays — with three of those five drives ending in brutal interceptions from Drake Maye.
Had the Patriots only squeaked by the Raiders in a low-scoring rock fight — or if Maye’s early-season malaise carried into Weeks 4 and 5 — then rushing Brown back would be a much-needed antidote.
But in its last two games, a shorthanded Patriots offense has shredded opposing defenses, putting up 74 total points.
Granted, most of that turnaround is a direct result of Maye looking more and more like the MVP candidate he was for a majority of the 2025 campaign.
During that two-game stretch, Maye has completed 48-of-71 passes for 643 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 79 rushing yards, one rushing score, and two total turnovers.
Even with both Brown and Mack Hollins sidelined, New England’s patchwork pass-catching personnel has thrived under a heavier workload — with players further down the depth chart like Efton Chism and Kyle Williams landing punches against Buffalo and Las Vegas.
That resurgent receiver group could get another major boost once Brown returns, especially if he draws more opposing defensive backs and opens up more looks for his teammates.
“I think it definitely opens up other parts of the field and other parts of the game for guys. I think you see it in the NBA; it’s probably the closest thing that I can think of,” Maye said of Brown’s impact when he does return to the field. “When they start doubling the best player once they get past half court, then they’re just leaving a corner 3 open or leaving a guy open for a dunk.
“So, it’s kind of like playing receiver and with a guy like that – we’ve got a lot of guys that have made plays now, so it’s going to be tough on defenses. But I know we’ve got a tough challenge this week, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Still, Brown’s impact might be better used in Week 7, when New England will need to keep pace with a Chicago Bears team coached by Ben Johnson — and led on the field by a potentially healthy Caleb Williams.
That compressed schedule should be even more reason not to rush Brown back, since the Patriots will only have a few days off after Sunday’s game against the Jets before they need to fly to Chicago for a Thursday Night Football game on Oct. 22.
Brown’s health will understandably take precedence over whether or not the star wideout is even in play for the game against New York.
But even if he gets the green light to play against New York, the prudent move might be for New England to ease Brown back in with a few practices this week — and then wait to activate him when his services might be more needed in Chicago less than a week from now.
It’s a good problem to have for the Patriots, who will eventually need to count on Brown as the schedule gets more arduous once the calendar flips to November and December.
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