Patriots’ Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye React to A.J. Brown’s Return Game vs. Jets originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It was one game, but A.J. Brown didn’t look like his former self in the Patriots’ Week 6 win against the Jets. He showed some rust in his first game back from a Week 1 injury.
Brown played in his first game since suffering an ankle sprain against the Seahawks. He caught three passes for 27 yards. Brown also dropped three pass attempts to him, the first time he’s done that in his career.
One key play saw Brown miss a catch during an onside kick attempt. Luckily, DeMario Douglas scooped up the ball. Coach Mike Vrabel was honest about Brown’s return and emphasized he still believes in the receiver.
"I know that he wanted to do well for his football team. Unfortunately, it wasn't his best effort. I know that he knows that. We have all the confidence in the world in A.J. to be able to finish those plays," Vrabel said.
Drake Maye connected with Douglas for 86 yards and Hunter Henry for 48 yards. Those two helped carry the offense in Brown’s absence.
Brown will look to improve quickly as the Patriots head to Chicago to face the Bears on Thursday. As far as his progress, his teammates believe he needs to take it one game at a time.
"I'm looking forward to just growing, just building the connection. I think there's some me, there's some plays he wishes he had back. I'll just tell him in the locker room, 'You ain't gotta worry about one.' He's a player in this league. He's gonna be one of the best players on the field every time he steps on it," Maye said.
"He's been out for four weeks, five weeks. It's different when you get out there and catch the ball when everybody's flying around. Everybody on this team, in this locker room, this building, we have the utmost confidence in him," Christian Gonzalez said. "Those couple little drops don't really mean anything. He's gonna get back to himself."