Former longtime Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant is not buying New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown's reasoning behind his 2026 struggles.
Brown was acquired by the Patriots from the Eagles over the summer in a trade that included a 2027 fifth-round draft pick and 2028 first-round pick. So far, the return on investment has been a disappointment for the Patriots.
They didn't have the three-time All-Pro wideout for four games after he suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener. Since returning in Week 6, he has had three catches for 27 yards against the New York Jets and three catches for 48 yards against the Chicago Bears. He had multiple dropped balls in both games combined, including on two perfect downfield throws
by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
When speaking with reporters after the loss to the Bears last week, Brown chalked his early struggles up to opponents showing him more attention on the field, which he's completely fine with as long as it opens up opportunities for his teammates.
However, Avant had a completely different opinion on the matter.
"BS! All day long. Malik Muhammad was guarding you yesterday, one-on-one. He's the third corner, fourth corner, yeah, exactly. One-on-one, the entire time," Avant said on SportsRadio 94 WIP. "There's no doubling and no helping. When you get your opportunities, make the best of it. This is football in the sense that it's the game that will humble you.
"You can be at the mountaintop today, and then tomorrow, you'll be in the valley. And his focus is not on winning. It's about A.J., and it's about stats. And it's just funny how the game will always come to knock you out when you got your priorities mixed up. ...A.J. is more concerned with having a Hall of Fame career than he is with winning. So now, he's pressing, and when you press, you don't play well because your focus has to be on the team."
Former Eagles WR calls "BS" on A.J. Brown’s explanation for his struggles with the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/FB6nsvh4HF
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) October 23, 2026
It's also important to note that Brown still might not be 100 percent recovered from the high ankle sprain. That's an injury that can take six weeks or more to heal, despite his willingness to return after four weeks off.
Maye and Brown showed a connection throughout training camp, and it's only a matter of time before the duo starts to find a rhythm under the bright lights of game action. Failure really isn't an option when considering everything the Patriots gave up to get the 29-year-old receiver.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Former Eagles player rips A.J. Brown's reasoning for 2026 struggles
