A.J. Brown's return to the Patriots' starting lineup after missing four games with an ankle injury was met with excitement and optimism about what the offense could look like and how Drake Maye would benefit from a clear No. 1 receiver.
From what we saw during training camp, it was clear that Brown and Maye had a solid connection and would be a problem for defenses once the season began, only for the receiver to get injured in Week 1 and stop that progress.
So now was the time to finally see it come to fruition during a game that actually mattered.
But as we saw, bouncing back from an ankle sprain isn't easy, and we're seeing that with Brown, as he struggles to be the playmaker he has been throughout his career. He made progress from his forgettable return against the Jets and the Thursday night matchup with the Bears, but he still has plenty of rust to shake off.
And that has many concerned about what Brown will do moving forward, even though his career shows that he can be a legitimate weapon for any quarterback he works with. That's probably why Mike Vrabel has no concerns right now, and maybe we should listen to him.
Mike Vrabel isn't too concerned about what we've seen from A.J. Brown so far
While speaking to reporters on Monday, the head coach was asked about Brown's progress and whether he had any concerns about his performance so far or in the near future.
Vrabel emphasized that he isn't worried at all, while also noting that there were a few plays Brown would surely like back.
"No, I don’t have any concern, no.
I thought that he dropped a few passes, and then the other night there was a contested catch that — I’ve seen him make those plays in the past, I’ve seen those plays get called for DPI, and I’ve seen those plays be good plays by the defense down the field.
So, I don’t think anybody has to press here or anything else. I think we just have to get back into a rhythm offensively with the guys that we have."
Given that it's only been two games, one of which was four days after his initial return, it's premature to draw any conclusions about what Brown will look like moving forward.
The good news is that the worst part of his performance against the Jets, setting a career-high in drops, wasn't an issue against the Bears, a massive improvement. And over the next few weeks, the Patriots will face some easier opponents that should help Brown get back on track.
Coming back from an ankle injury, something he hasn't dealt with before in his career, and playing under a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback are factors people are overlooking when determining what kind of player Brown will be for the Patriots.
Based on what we saw this summer, with most reps coming against Christian Gonzalez, which is notable, there's no reason to doubt Brown and Maye can establish that connection on game day. We just need to give them time to acclimate and get on the same page.
Add us as a preferred source on Google