The Patriots may be getting A.J. Brown back on the move this week, and the timing could matter for an offense that’s been stretched thin at receiver.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday morning that Brown’s status for Week 10 still hasn’t been finalized, but the current expectation is that the veteran wideout will travel with the team to Germany on Wednesday.
“I mean I think that that’s the plan,” Vrabel said. “I mean, certainly we want to - we haven’t - there’s no decision on that, but I would imagine that that’s the plan and try to work to continue to get guys back that can get back and be healthy and help the football team.
That’s the goal. So, to be able to answer that right now, today, I can’t do that with a few guys, but I know that that’s the plan is to try to get everybody that can help us to get on the plane on Wednesday and go over there and help us win.”
New England is set to practice in Foxboro on Wednesday before heading overseas that night. Once the team arrives in Munich, it will go through a walkthrough Thursday and then a full practice Friday.
Brown’s possible return would be a welcome development for a Patriots passing game that has had trouble keeping its top targets on the field. The team acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in June, sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection the other way.
He has played in only three of New England’s nine games this season. A high ankle sprain in Week 1 kept him out before he came back for Weeks 6 and 7, but a knee issue that had previously been bothering him flared up ahead of Week 8 and sidelined him for the last two games.
In those three appearances, Brown has caught nine passes on 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns.
If he can’t go, the Patriots’ receiver group remains thin. The room currently includes DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins, who was activated from injured reserve this past week.
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