Eagles locker room navigates complex emotions following A.J. Brown departure
Eagles players expressed mixed reactions, with some viewing Brown's departure as relief.
Event / Sports
A.J. Brown Trade to Patriots
Wide receiver A.J. Brown traded from Philadelphia Eagles to New England Patriots in exchange for 2028 first-round and 2027 fifth-round draft picks. Brown has a degenerative knee condition but was cleared medically. He has begun offseason workouts with the Patriots.
3 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 4 Jun, 02:31 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
A.J. Brown expressed frustration with Eagles offense direction in final season
A.J. Brown was dealing with a frustrating final season in Philadelphia after expressing concerns about the direction of the Eagles' offense. Despite declining to discuss specific details about what went wrong, Brown indicated he was ready to move forward after his exit from the team.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels compares A.J. Brown to Rob Gronkowski
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels expressed excitement about A.J. Brown's arrival, comparing him to Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski in terms of physical presence and skill set. McDaniels stated that Brown does many things well and expressed eagerness to integrate him into the Patriots' offensive system.
Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata views A.J. Brown trade as relief
Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata described the A.J. Brown trade as ending a prolonged period of uncertainty. Mailata stated that the ongoing speculation about Brown's status created distraction, saying 'is he in, is he out?' and that resolution provided relief for the team and offense.
A.J. Brown participates in first New England Patriots offseason workout
A.J. Brown participated in his first offseason workout with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown expressed emotional fulfillment about joining the Patriots, the team he rooted for as a child and wanted to play for when he was not selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by New England.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel defends A.J. Brown knee concerns
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed concerns about A.J. Brown's degenerative knee condition, noting that the player's historical availability in games demonstrated durability. Vrabel stated that managing any ailment would vary from player to player and expressed confidence in Brown's future availability.
Los Angeles Rams had interest in A.J. Brown before trade to Patriots
The Los Angeles Rams were among teams rumored to have interest in acquiring A.J. Brown prior to his trade to the New England Patriots. The Rams' concerns about Brown's knee injury reportedly caused them to back away from pursuing the trade.
Eagles players express mixed reactions to A.J. Brown trade
Philadelphia Eagles players expressed mixed reactions to the A.J. Brown trade during team OTAs. While some players viewed the move as an end to uncertainty, others expressed sadness about losing the veteran receiver. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell called Brown a big brother who helped him grow, while cornerback Cooper DeJean acknowledged Brown's greatness while recognizing the business side of professional sports.
Patriots executive confirms A.J. Brown has degenerative knee condition
New England Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf disclosed that A.J. Brown has a degenerative knee condition with wear and tear. Wolf stated that the team's medical and training staff examined Brown and approved the acquisition despite the knee issue. Brown missed only one regular-season game due to knee injury during his four seasons with the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles trade wide receiver A.J. Brown to New England Patriots
The Philadelphia Eagles officially traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler who spent four seasons with the Eagles, was traded to his childhood team after months of speculation about his future with Philadelphia.
A.J. Brown denies knee injury concerns after Patriots trade
A.J. Brown downplayed his knee issue when speaking to reporters, stating there is no injury and nothing to worry about. Brown noted that in four years with the Eagles, he missed only one game due to a knee issue and expressed readiness to play.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Brown Makes Patriots Debut as McDaniels Draws Gronkowski Comparison
Brown attends first Patriots offseason workout; coordinator compares him to Gronkowski.
Patriots, Brown Address Degenerative Knee Condition After Trade
Patriots confirm Brown's degenerative knee condition but express confidence in his readiness.
Eagles Trade A.J. Brown to Patriots Amid Rams Interest
Eagles trade A.J. Brown to Patriots; Rams had also pursued the star receiver.