A.J. Brown officially returned to the field for the New England Patriots on Sunday, but it wasn’t the comeback anyone hoped for. The star wideout dropped a career-high three passes in their 26-19 win against the New York Jets, a rough welcome back after missing four games on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. That’s a tough stat line to swallow, especially when everyone’s been waiting for him to make an impact.
“My Timing Was Off”: Brown Owns Up to Struggles
After the game, Brown didn’t mince words about his performance. “My timing was off. I’m much better than what I put on display today. There’s no excuses. I’ll be better,” he told reporters. He knows he messed up, telling everyone, “I expect myself to make each one of those plays. I’m more than capable of making those catches.” We love a guy who owns his mistakes, but still, those were some critical misses. This was supposed to be his big return, not another setback.
Patriots Still Waiting on Their Offseason Star
Let’s not forget, Brown was the Patriots’ big offseason addition. They brought him in to be *that* guy, the reliable target who changes games. But so far, his season has been a bust due to this injury. He’s only played in parts of just two games, managing a meager six catches for 103 yards. Those numbers aren’t what anyone expected from a player with such high expectations. It’s a frustrating situation, for him and for the team, because they need him to be a difference-maker, not just a guy who’s “capable.”
Drake Maye Has His Back, But Brown Needs to Produce
Despite the drops, quarterback Drake Maye is clearly still all-in on Brown. “First of all, it was great to see him back out there. He looks cool in the huddle. So I’m looking forward to just growing, just building the connection,” Maye said after the win. He even took some of the blame, acknowledging, “I think there’s some [on] me, [and] there’s obviously some plays he wished he had back.” Maye’s confidence in Brown is obvious, telling the locker room, “You ain’t got to worry about [No.] 1. He’s a player in this league. He’s going to be one of the best players on the field every time he steps on it.” That’s a huge vote of confidence, and Maye made it clear he’ll “keep coming his way.” Expectations remain sky-high for Brown in New England. Now, he’s got to show everyone why. The Patriots need their “big offseason addition” to start performing like the star they know he is. The talent is there, the QB connection is forming, but Brown has to make those catches when it counts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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