Typically, physicals are only a formality to officially conclude NFL trades. As this offseason has shown, however, they can derail even the biggest of blockbuster trades.
However, the New England Patriots are not facing a Maxx Crosby-to-the-Ravens scenario regarding their recent trade pickup, A.J. Brown. The wide receiver passed his physical on Tuesday morning and according to head coach Mike Vrabel will take the field alongside his new teammates later in the day.
“A.J. passed the physical and will
be out there in some capacity,” Vrabel said during a press conference ahead of the Patriots’ organized team activity on Tuesday.
“We’ll have to monitor it just because he hasn’t been with us. It’s important that we do that, but also important that he be out there and kind of see how we do things. I’m sure there are 32 different stretching routines, and 32 different individuals, and kind of where everything goes. That’s an important process too, and hopefully he can know enough to line up and take some snaps in some of the team periods as well.”
Brown was acquired by the Patriots on Monday after three months of on-again/off-again negotiations with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ultimately, the teams reached an agreement that sent the 28-year-old to Foxborough in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 2028 plus a fifth-rounder in 2027.
Less than 24 hours after the trade was made official, Brown is now getting ready for his first practice with the team — and for diving head-first into the Patriots offense. For him, that will start with focusing on one position and then growing from there.
“All the guys right now are going to learn all of the different positions,” Vrabel explained. “The ones that have been here, that’s how Todd’s tried to install the offense — to know what each player has on each concept, and learn it that way. And I would imagine that A.J. would do the same. …
“Right now he would have to learn one position and I would imagine that’s going to be outside, but as that grows I know that that will be across the board. Hopefully, that’s something that he’s looking forward to do. But you have to learn one before you can learn them all.“
