A.J. Brown enters the 2026 season as the clear No. 1 wide receiver for the New England Patriots following his June trade from Philadelphia, where he posted 78 receptions on 121 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games during 2025. Reunited with head coach Mike Vrabel and paired with quarterback Drake Maye in an offense projected to feature higher passing volume than the Eagles’ scheme, Brown is expected to command a sizable target share as the primary perimeter option alongside additions like Romeo Doubs. At age 29, lingering questions center on his degenerative knee condition and recent hamstring history, though the team’s medical staff cleared him after thorough evaluation, and he has worked through minor camp issues such as a thumb dislocation without missing significant time. Official injury reports and early-season usage will shape volume outcomes in a 17-game schedule that begins September 9.