A.J. Brown showed exactly why the Patriots are expecting big things from him in 2026.
In a joint practice with the Colts, Brown reportedly got the better of Sauce Gardner, with Ari Meirov posting on X that Brown “savagely schooled” the cornerback. For a receiver who has already stacked up four straight 1,000-yard seasons, that kind of moment fits the profile. Brown is a seven-year veteran, a four-time Pro Bowler and a second team All-Pro, and he’s heading into a season where he’s been widely projected to make another leap.
Gardner, meanwhile, has been a top-end name in his own right. The four-year veteran made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two NFL seasons, though he did not get back to that level in 2024 or 2025 after being traded from the Jets to the Colts in the middle of the 2025 season.
#Patriots WR AJ Brown 1-on-1 vs. #Colts CB Sauce Gardner at joint practice today 🍿
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 11, 2026
(📽️ @PatriotsCLNS)pic.twitter.com/JJHakbALMb
The Patriots are hoping Brown’s arrival helps unlock a more dangerous offense with Drake Maye. Brown already looks like a strong fit with the young quarterback, but the bigger challenge is blending that talent into a new locker room and a new camp environment.
That part has already gotten a little spicy. Brown recently had a dust-up with Christian Gonzalez, according to a post on X by Carlos A. Lopez, and Gonzalez didn’t shy away from describing what that kind of back-and-forth means in camp.
“Christian Gonzalez on whether #Patriots WR A.J. Brown brings out a more competitive side of him:”
“Oh, for sure,” Gonzalez said. “I mean, it’s competition.
That’s how you get better. That’s how he can get better, how I can get better, the defense, the team.
It all comes together. It’s the dog days of camp.
It’s still hot. Of course tempers are gonna flare.
Everybody’s hot and wants to be the best.”
Brown also spoke about what it means to reunite with Mike Vrabel, and he made clear he expects that relationship to push him.
“#Patriots WR A.J. Brown on reuniting with Mike Vrabel:”
“Vrabes is about to make me turn up,” Brown said. “Like make me go to another place.
Obviously I wanna be great. And I wanna push myself, but when you have a support system from somebody that you respect so much, it’ll give you a little extra push.
We always have more in the tank.”
In Other News...
Patriots Players Just Got A Frustrating Gillette Reality Check
The Patriots have spent plenty of time hearing player preferences for natural grass at Gillette Stadium, but the field discussion has taken on a more immediate edge this summer. The stadiums artificial surface is getting attention for a different reason now, with the team working to get the playing field ready ahead of the preseason opener against the Colts.
What makes the situation frustrating for the locker room is that this is not being framed as a long-term shift. Robert Kraft has no plans to move away from artificial turf permanently, so even as the current surface gets replaced to satisfy league standards, the bigger debate around what should be under the Patriots feet remains very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Backup QB Just Forced His Way Into This Competition
A one-day joint practice with the Colts at Gillette Stadium gave the Patriots a different kind of August test, and it came with a few welcome signs of life. Christian Barmore and Charles Woods were back on the field, while the usual mix of injuries and absences kept the session from being fully whole. In that setting, the quarterback work stood out most, with Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito both getting meaningful reps against another teams defense.
DeVito made the strongest push to be noticed, turning in a session that had him delivering multiple touchdowns and forcing his way into a conversation that figures to matter as camp rolls on. For a Patriots team still sorting out the depth chart behind Maye, that kind of day is hard to ignore, especially when it comes during a rare practice against outside competition. The bigger picture around the roster still has a few loose ends, but the backup quarterback race suddenly looks a little more interesting than it did before the Colts arrived. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Fans Already Have Their Eyes On One Rookie Tight End
The Patriots are heading into their first preseason game at Gillette Stadium after a summer of training camp and joint practices, and the early buzz from fans is already pointing toward a couple of rookies. At the top of that list is tight end Eli Raridon, who has emerged as the most anticipated player in a recent survey, with pass rusher Gabe Jacas also drawing plenty of interest as camp gives way to game action.
Raridon and Jacas are both viewed as players who could matter this season if they stay healthy, which helps explain why supporters are paying such close attention before the games start to count. For a roster still taking shape, the appeal is obvious: a young tight end with a chance to carve out a role, and a pass rusher who could add something the defense will want to lean on all year. [Read more 🡒]