Pats' Brown explains his mindset ahead of practice vs. Eagles

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Patriots' A.J. Brown explains his mindset ahead of practice vs. Eagles

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Aug 4, 2026 10:42 AM ET

A.J. Brown won't have to wait long to show his former team what it is missing.

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will have joint practices on Aug. 19 and 20. Joint practices often lead to scuffles and heated arguments. Given Brown's past with the Eagles, all eyes will be set on Foxborough.

However, it looks like the fans and the media are blowing that narrative out of proportion. Talking to NFL Network, the former Super Bowl champion downplayed the importance of those sessions.

A.J. Brown is unfazed by practice vs. Eagles

“It’s not a game, it’s practice, and I’m out here crafting,” Brown said. “I’m not harping on if I catch a touchdown, I’m not harping on if someone knocked the ball down. I’m crafting. The only thing that speaks to me is the craft, and what I need to do better with. And anything else is irrelevant. Obviously, you’re all excited, it’s no revenge. Like we won a Super Bowl. It’s no revenge on my part, you know? It’s nothing but love.”

"It's not a game, it's practice"

A.J. Brown on the @Patriots upcoming joint practices with the @Eagles @MikeGarafolo | @BaldyNFL pic.twitter.com/5t9N22V6Up
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 3, 2026

That's the way it should be. That said, things did end sourly between Brown and the organization.

While he may not have anything against most of his former teammates — though his relationship with Jalen Hurts was a constant talking point — it's not like they were to blame for how things went down. That said, knowing Brown's competitive nature, it's hard to believe those practice sessions will be irrelevant to him.

He's more than familiar with Nick Sirianni's team, its approach, preparation and personnel. He'll likely try to send his former team a stern reminder of the All-Pro-caliber talent it traded, even if he's the one who forced his way out of the team.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

More must-reads: