Patriots OTA Notebook: A.J. Brown makes highly-anticipated practice debut

June 2, 2026 - 19:04

The New England Patriots held their second open organized team activity of the spring on Tuesday, June 2, drawing a larger crowd of media than usual. The main attraction was wide receiver A.J. Brown, who made his highly-anticipated practice debut with the team after sitting out the first session. Brown, acquired in a blockbuster trade this offseason, looked sharp during individual drills and showed immediate chemistry with quarterback Mac Jones during 7-on-7 work.

Brown hauled in several passes over the middle, using his size and strength to box out defensive backs. He also ran crisp routes on the outside, creating separation on a deep corner route that drew cheers from teammates. The Patriots offense, which struggled to stretch the field last season, clearly benefits from Brown's presence. Head coach Bill Belichick noted after practice that Brown is still learning the playbook but has a strong work ethic.

Other observations from the session included rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez breaking up a pass intended for Kendrick Bourne, and running back Rhamondre Stevenson looking explosive in pass-catching drills. The offensive line, still missing left tackle Trent Brown due to personal reasons, rotated several combinations. The team will hold its next OTA on Thursday before mandatory minicamp next week.