The New England Patriots paid a steep price for A.J. Brown, trading a 2028 first-round pick for a receiver who is supposed to explode. That explosion has not happened yet. Brown is still working through a high ankle sprain that kept him out for four weeks, and the lack of separation is now a visible problem on the field.
Per Pats Pulpit, Brown ranked the fourth-worst out of 61 receivers in Week 7 for average separation, with just 1.5 yards to work with. This is not a one-week fluke. Last year, among 120 receivers, his separation ranking was seventh-worst, according to the data. He is fighting for every inch, and the numbers prove he is losing that fight more often than he should.
Numbers That Tell the Story
The production gap is real. This season, Brown has recorded just three catches in each of his last three games. In 2025, he had just four games where he did not catch the ball at least three times. He is taking longer to get going than he ever has in his career. He has six catches for 75 yards since returning from the injury, a total that includes multiple drops against the Jets.
Brown admits the struggle without making excuses. “I’m trying to put my best foot forward. I know obviously I’m working through something, but it’s no excuses. I made none in the first week I was out there,” Brown said. He knows the gap in his game. “Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes I see it, and sometimes I’m pushing through,” he told reporters. He sees the coverage, but his body is still finding its rhythm.
More Than Just Drops
The issue goes deeper than just catching the ball. Brown missed multiple blocks in the run game against the Chicago Bears. One missed block on a cornerback could have helped Rhamondre Stevenson reach the end zone. Brown owns those mistakes. “I won’t make any excuses. I missed a couple blocks,” he said. “I’m going to leave it at that.”
Despite the struggles, the quarterback still trusts his star receiver. Drake Maye says Brown is just getting things going after a tough road back from the injury list. The team played two games in five days, which limited practice time. Maye believes Brown will make plays once he finds his flow.
Can Miami Fix It?
New England faces the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 4:25 p.m. ET. Miami has the 19th ranked pass defense in the league this season. Their young secondary is struggling to cover receivers. This matchup offers Brown a clear chance to prove the separation issues were just part of the recovery process.
Brown knows the team needs him to be at his best to catch the Buffalo Bills in the standings. “There’s still room for improvement. We’ve done some good things. We just got to take it to another level,” Brown said. He believes the offense is close to clicking. “We are close.” The next game will show if he can finally put his best foot forward against a defense that gives up big plays.
