A.J. Brown is back on the practice field for the New England Patriots.
That does not guarantee he will play Sunday against the New York Jets, but it is the first meaningful step toward a return after the veteran wide receiver missed the last four games with a high ankle sprain.
New England officially opened Brown’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday, giving the Patriots three weeks to either activate him to the 53-man roster or leave him on injured reserve.
Could A.J. Brown Return in Week 6?
Reuters reported Wednesday that Brown returned to practice after being sidelined since the season opener against Seattle.
Brown suffered the high ankle sprain in that game after catching three passes for a team-high 26 yards. He has not played since.
Head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear Wednesday that the Patriots are not assuming Brown is ready simply because the practice window has opened.
Vrabel said the team needs to see how Brown responds to practice before deciding whether he can return in time for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
That makes the next two practices especially important.
Why Brown’s Return Would Matter So Much
The timing could not be much better for New England.
Mack Hollins is already on injured reserve with a calf injury, and the Patriots have been leaning on Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams at receiver.
Brown would immediately give Drake Maye a true boundary target with proven ability to win in traffic and create explosive plays downfield.
The Patriots offense has already begun to find a rhythm without him. Maye is coming off his best performance of the season and New England has won two straight.
Adding Brown back into that mix would give the offense another dimension at exactly the right time.
Christian Gonzalez Also Returned to Practice
Brown was not the only significant Patriot to get back on the field Wednesday.
Christian Gonzalez was also a limited participant after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.
Gonzalez has said he is ready to return, but like Brown, his Week 6 status will depend on how he progresses through the rest of the practice week.
The Patriots’ secondary would benefit significantly from getting him back against a Jets offense that has shown more explosiveness in recent weeks.
Drake Maye Was a Full Participant
There was also encouraging news at quarterback.
Drake Maye was listed as a full participant despite dealing with a shoulder issue.
The Patriots’ official injury coverage lists Brown and Gonzalez among a large group of limited players, while Maye was able to take a full workload.
That is important because the Patriots do not want anything interrupting Maye’s momentum after his recent surge.
Patriots Still Have Several Injuries to Monitor
New England is not fully healthy yet.
A total of 13 players were listed as limited on Wednesday, while cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Karon Prunty did not participate.
That gives the Patriots several situations to monitor as the week progresses.
Still, Brown’s return to practice is clearly the biggest development.
What Comes Next?
The Patriots do not have to activate Brown this week.
Opening the practice window simply starts the clock.
If Brown responds well and gets through the next few days without a setback, there is a real possibility he could be active Sunday against the Jets.
If not, New England can give him another week or two without rushing the process.
The important part is that Brown is practicing again.
And for a Patriots offense that is starting to build momentum, that is a very good sign.
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