A.J. Brown participated in Patriots practice for the first time since Week 1, when a high ankle sprain during the season opener took him out of action for four weeks.
Now, the clock has started on the 21-day window for him to come off the injured reserve. Brown can practice with the team for entire window, but New England must activate or trade him by its end.
“He hasn’t been out there for four weeks, so we’ll get him back out there practicing and see if he’s ready to go in a couple days,” Mike Vrabel said before Wednesday’s practice.
The New York Jets visit Foxborough Sunday, but the Patriots’ impending Thursday night football game at the Chicago Bears could make that divisional matchup a tough landing spot for Brown. The 29-year-old served as quarterback Drake Maye’s primary target during training camp.
The Patriots’ offense has made great strides over the last two weeks after a sluggish start through September. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, Maye and coordinator Josh McDaniels produced over 500 total offensive yards, despite another veteran receiver – Mack Hollins – landing on IR.
Brown was injured in the first half of the Patriots’ Super Bowl 60 rematch against the Seattle Seahawks, but he’s remained in high spirits through his quick rehab. The 3-time All-Pro receiver was all smiles in the locker room Wednesday as he prepared to rejoin a position group who has recently earned their head coach’s high praise.
“They all care about each other,” Vrabel said after Sunday’s 45-17 thrashing of the Raiders. “Those receivers, they don't care who catches the ball. They don't care who catches the touchdown. They're just as excited for the next guy if it was them. I think that that's truly what we want to build around it. I got to get it to be the entire team. I got to get the entire team to look at it like that.”
Fellow wideout Romeo Doubs sounded excited for Brown’s return when he spoke at his locker.
“I love A.J.,” Doubs said. “He’s someone you want to be around, just as a person, as a player. I’m grateful for that.”
“He’s an explosive player,” he later added.
It’s improbably the Patriots will get into a shootout with the Jets, who rank towards the bottom of the NFL in most offensive categories and have failed to score more than 24 points in five games. But New York’s defense is ranked fourth overall, and they boast one of the best leaguewide turnover differentials, (+3). Brown built real chemistry with Maye in August, and he could certainly help the Patriots get out to a fast start.
Looking ahead, however, the Patriots will face a Bears team very likely to have their starter, Caleb Williams, back under center after his own injury rehab. The short week puts extra strain on a New England team who already has several starters on IR. If the Patriots feel very favorably about their New York matchup, they may wait until Thursday to activate Brown.
Vrabel shared further good news on the injury front: All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez also returned to practice Wednesday and he said he expects to play against the Jets in Week 6.
