A.J. Brown was considered one of the best wide receivers in the NFL during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. That narrative is quickly changing since being traded to the New England Patriots.
Brown’s first season in the AFC East hasn’t been what he or his team signed up for. The 29-year-old’s only appeared in three games during the 2026 campaign, and more importantly, has totaled a measly 101 yards.
Meanwhile, New England’s Thursday Night Football loss against the Chicago Bears is creating an even more damaging narrative for Brown. The star wide receiver essentially told reporters after the 30-24 loss that he’s being used as a decoy.
That’s certainly not what the Patriots spent a first-round pick on when they made the trade agreement with Philadelphia. Brown’s a former Super Bowl champion, and he’s never been one to shy away from demanding the football.
MORE: Drake Maye takes blame for costly end-zone interception as Patriots fall to Bears
Eagles fans continue to mock A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown says that defenses are intentionally taking him out of the game: "I know what type of player I am…I get a lot of attention, teams try and take me away and it gives a lot of opportunities for other guys to make plays." – @CLNSMedia https://t.co/Bh7f7J1XBb
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) October 23, 2026
In fact, Brown’s time in Philly ultimately came to an end in 2026 when the Eagles decided the constant jabs at Jalen Hurts and the offense were enough.
This season, the veteran WR missed several weeks with an ankle injury. That’s certainly part of the reason for his inconsistent start to the year. However, his TNF postgame comments likely aren’t putting Patriots fans’ concerns at ease.
“I know what type of player I am…I get a lot of attention, teams try and take me away and it gives a lot of opportunities for other guys to make plays,” Brown told reporters.
Patriots need more production
In Brown’s two most recent games against the New York Jets and Bears, he’s combined for four drops. At least one of them would’ve gone for a touchdown against New York. That’s certainly not the expectation for a former All-Pro wideout.
MORE: 4 NFL players who should be traded at 2026 deadline
The Patriots finished Thursday’s game with running back Rhamondre Stevenson as their leading pass catcher. However, most of Stevenson’s receiving yards came on a wild end-of-half catch that resulted in a 48-yard touchdown as the first half expired.
Meanwhile, Brown was the team’s fourth wideout in terms of yardage. If New England plans on making another deep postseason run in 2026 they need their star WR to play significantly better.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —