It felt like a long time coming when A.J. Brown was finally activated and officially ready to return to the Patriots for last week's game against the Jets, after suffering a high ankle sprain in the season opener against the Seahawks.
The connection between him and Drake Maye was apparent throughout the summer, and given how the team fared at the start of the year without him, it was clear Brown was missed, and the offense needed him back on the field as soon as possible.
So when he finally returned in Week 6, there was a lot of hype about what he would look like, only for everyone, including Brown himself, to be disappointed with his performance, particularly his drops.
He recorded only 3 catches for 27 yards, was targeted 10 times, and set a career high with 3 drops. It wasn't exactly what anyone expected from the superstar receiver, and he made it clear he wasn't thrilled with his performance either.
“I just didn’t make the play. I’m not really going backwards because it’s over with now. I watched the film. I put it to bed, and I’m looking forward.”
It prompted worries among analysts and fans about whether he returned too soon and whether his ankle was still an issue, but he quickly shut those concerns down, just like Maye did in the days leading up to Thursday's matchup.
Drake Maye isn't worried about A.J. Brown going into their tough Bears matchup
While speaking to reporters earlier this week, the quarterback was asked about his top receiver and whether he had any concerns about his ability to bounce back and be the No. 1 receiver the offense needs.
Based on his answer, it's clear that Maye doesn't have the same concerns that have grown in the days since last week's game, and that confidence is something Brown will need going into a very telling matchup after last week's stinker.
“It’s A.J. Brown. Last week is what it is. I wish I had some throws back and attempts I targeted his way, and I think it’s part of this league. You want to make a play so bad, you want to have plays back, and there are plays that I want back every week, and that’s part of it. It’s a short week, so we’ve got to get focused on Chicago.”
After all the negativity this team has endured this season, the last thing they need is a growing narrative about what kind of player Brown is, or will be, for the offense. Last week was about shaking off the rust and getting real game reps, exactly what he needed ahead of a bigger game against the Bears.
That's why he was on the field for 52 offensive snaps, to prepare him for a more meaningful matchup that could dictate the rest of their season.
The expectation is that his performance was a fluke, the result of missing a month of games, not an indication of the kind of player he will be for Maye. We saw how good their chemistry was during the summer, and there's no reason to believe they won't get back to that in no time.
Brown will have to prove that on Thursday night to shut down the chatter. Otherwise, it'll only get worse, and the idea that trading for him was a mistake, especially for a first-round pick, will only get louder and more frustrating.
It shouldn't be a problem based on what we saw during training camp and how good a player he's been throughout his career. The Bears also have an inconsistent secondary that Maye can exploit with deep throws, a specialty for both the quarterback and Brown, so they have a real chance to boost their production this week.
That's the kind of performance that will shut down any and all negativity surrounding Brown's return, and hopefully, that's what we'll see on Thursday night.
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