Patriots Receiver A.J. Brown Reunites With Former Eagles Teammates at Joint Practice

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown met his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, during a joint training camp practice session on Wednesday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The practice marked the first time the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver faced Philadelphia since his offseason trade to New England.

Due to the layout of the Patriots’ practice facility, players were required to jog across a lower practice field and up a hill to reach the main training pitches. As the Eagles squad stretched on the lower field, Brown kept his helmet on and his head down while passing through his former teammates, offering brief acknowledgments to a few Philadelphia assistant coaches along the way.

Once team drills got underway, Brown elevated the intensity during an 11-on-11 scrimmage against Philadelphia’s third-year All-Pro cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell. On the initial play of their matchup, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye lofted a deep pass down the sideline. Brown gained separation from Mitchell and touched the ball with one hand, but Mitchell managed to knock the pass away at the last second, generating a loud response from the crowd in the bleachers.

The play was the only time Brown and Mitchell matched up directly during the joint session. Speaking to reporters afterward, Brown joked that Mitchell “got away with a little holding” on the play. Mitchell acknowledged the high intensity of the drill, noting that facing Brown presented a challenging assignment and stating that it was enjoyable to compete against his former teammate again.

Brown addressed his departure from Philadelphia, rejecting any suggestion that the practice was about seeking closure. He stated that he will always love Philadelphia and expressed gratitude for winning a Super Bowl ring with the team, while emphasizing that his focus remains entirely on his present role in New England. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts also expressed public support, stating that he holds a lot of love for Brown and appreciates his competitive spirit.

Brown’s exit from Philadelphia followed a difficult stretch late last season, when his on-field production declined alongside rising internal friction. The frustration boiled over during the Eagles’ 23-19 wild-card round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, where television cameras captured Brown and Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni arguing on the sideline. The dispute required a security officer to step between them as Brown removed his helmet and shouted in Sirianni’s direction. When asked about the incident on Wednesday, Brown declined to discuss it further, urging media to keep conversation positive.

Background

In National Football League (NFL) preseason preparations, joint training camp practices allow two opposing franchises to conduct shared practice sessions and scrimmage drills prior to official exhibition games. These sessions provide coaches and evaluation staff an opportunity to test players against unfamiliar schemes and opponents in controlled environments.

Player trades between teams often create notable narrative focus during joint sessions, particularly when prominent athletes face former teammates. The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are two established American football franchises undergoing roster adjustments during the summer training period ahead of the regular season.