Have you seen A.J. Brown?
If you haven't, you're not alone. The New England Patriots star has been noticeably absent from the offense in the first half on "Thursday Night Football" against the Chicago Bears. Back in the day, you might have seen his face on the side of a milk carton.
In 2026, Brown's absence is enough to set social media ablaze.
Fantasy managers, bettors, Patriots fans, and just about everyone else on the face of the earth are wondering where Brown has been.
They got their answer late in the first half, when Brown hauled in an 18-yard pass from Drake Maye for his first of the night.
Brown was targeted just twice in the opening half, just one game after returning from an ankle injury. The star was credited with three drops against
the New York Jets in Week 6, so expectations were high heading into Week 7. And then the game started.
New England hasn't gotten a good return on its investment in Brown so far, who has caught just six-of-16 targets for 53 yards through the first half of Week 7. He is still waiting for his first touchdown with the Patriots.
Here's what to know about Brown's performance against the Bears.
Is A.J. Brown playing tonight?
Brown is playing against the Bears in Week 7.
He was targeted twice in the first half, catching one pass for 18 yards. Otherwise, the 29-year-old hasn't been featured much in the New England offense.
Considering the injuries to Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins, Brown was considered to be a huge factor in tonight's game plan.
Instead, he has been invisible – at least for the first 30 minutes.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is A.J. Brown playing tonight? WR's first-half no-show on 'Thursday Night Football' draws confusion
