New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown showed his toughness during Monday's training camp session. After suffering a dislocated thumb during a competitive one-on-one drill against cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Brown did not exit the field for the remainder of the session.
The injury occurred during a red zone sequence when Brown tangled with Gonzalez on a pass attempt from quarterback Drake Maye. Rather than heading to the locker room, Brown worked with team medical staff on the field. He had the thumb taped and returned to the practice rotation, where he successfully caught two touchdown passes to finish out the day.
Brown spoke with reporters following the session, noting that he had dealt with a similar injury during his college years at Mississippi in 2018. He emphasized that he views these incidents as part of the sport and prefers to stay in the flow of practice when possible. He plans to manage the injury with standard treatment, including stim and ice.
Regarding his progress with quarterback Drake Maye, Brown noted that while their timing began slowly, the pair is gaining momentum as training camp progresses. The receiver remains a key focal point of the Patriots' offense as the team continues its preparations for the season.