Published October 21, 2026 03:36 PM
Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day on Sunday. He caught only four of 10 targets and had three drops in his return to the lineup after four weeks on injured reserve.
With another game on Thursday, Brown had to move on quickly.
“I think that was the hardest part, you know, getting open. I just didn’t make the play,” Brown said Tuesday, via Mark Daniels of Mass Live. “I’m not really going backwards because it’s over with now. You know, I watched the film, I put it to bed, and I’m looking forward.”
Brown was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain in Week 1.
He didn’t blame his ankle or rustiness for his poor play and said he won’t change anything for this week’s game against the Bears.
“No, same process as before,” Brown said. “You know, doing my daily things, getting ready for the game, preparing. Go out here and make plays and leave it at that.”
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye still has faith in his No. 1 wide receiver.
“I mean, it’s A.J. Brown,” Maye said. “Last week is what it is. You know, I wish I had some throws back and, throw some targets his way. And I think it’s part of this league. You want to, you know, make a play so bad. You want to have plays back. There are plays which I want back every week, and that’s part of it.”