A.J. Brown finally hit the field for the Patriots on Sunday, back after a brutal four-game ankle injury layoff, but what he put on display against the Jets was not pretty. New England pulled out a tight 26-19 win, but Brown’s performance was anything but triumphant, leaving fans wondering if their star receiver is truly ready to roll.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Rocky Comeback for Brown
When your star wide receiver gets targeted 10 times by the quarterback, you expect some serious production. Instead, Brown managed just three catches, and worse yet, racked up three drops. It wasn’t just the receiving game, either. Late in the fourth quarter, with the Jets clawing back to within seven points, Brown muffed an onside kick. Talk about heart attack material! Luckily, tight end Eli Raridon was right there to corral the loose ball, saving Brown and securing the win. That’s a bullet dodged, but man, it felt way too close for comfort.
Brown Owns Up, But the Pressure Is On
After the game, Brown didn’t mince words about his rough return. “I didn’t play good,” he admitted. “I don’t know, like, my timing was off. I’m much better than what I put on display today. There’s no excuses. I’ll be better.” He even doubled down, calling himself “more than capable” of making those plays and insisted that the ankle injury had absolutely nothing to do with his off day. That’s a bold claim, especially after missing a month, but you gotta respect the guy owning his performance. Still, “much better” isn’t what we saw on Sunday, and the Patriots need to see that version of him fast.
Brown won’t have long to shake off the rust, because the Patriots are back at it quickly. They face the Bears on Thursday night, meaning a short week to get his timing back. The pressure is seriously on for him to return to form, especially with Romeo Doubs potentially sidelined. Doubs reportedly hurt his shoulder earlier in Sunday’s win while catching a touchdown, and if he can’t go, Brown’s impact becomes even more critical. Here’s hoping he truly is “much better” than what we saw, because the Patriots are gonna need every bit of it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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