Patriots’ A.J. Brown Addresses Struggles in Return From Injury: ‘There’s No Excuses’ originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A.J. Brown will be the first to tell you he didn’t have the best return to the field. He actually did so after the Patriots’ win against the Jets.
The receiver returned in Week 6 after an ankle injury he suffered in Week 1 sent him to IR. Brown caught three passes for 27 yards. He dropped three pass attempts for the first time in his career.
Brown also missed a catch during an onside kick attempt. Coach Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and others weren’t concerned and supported Brown. Brown understands there may have been rust, but didn’t mention that as the reason for his off game.
"There's no excuses," Brown said after the game via CLNS Media. "I stacked by guy, should've made the play. I beat my guy on third down, should've made the play. Ankle or not, I make all those plays."
A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Brown was traded from the Eagles to the Patriots for a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick. He reunited with Vrabel after the two were together with the Titans.
Brown, with 1,003 receiving yards last season, will need to regroup quickly, as the Patriots face the Bears on Thursday night. He has a plan to get back to form and prove his performance against the Jets was a one-time occurrence.
"Short week. Just trying to just get going again… best foot forward. Put this to bed really fast. I’m going to watch the tape, and it's over, I'm going to flush it," Brown said.