Sauce Gardner Mocks Reaction to Trending A.J. Brown Video After Slipping in Colts vs. Pats Drill

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown enjoyed some success against the Indianapolis Colts' Sauce Gardner during Tuesday's joint practice, but the cornerback thought the reaction was overblown.

Gardner took to social media and laughed at the reaction to a single one-on-one rep before adding, "its a reason that's the only one yall saw."

While Gardner mocked the reaction, these types of best-on-best matchups in joint practices are always going to generate a reaction. That is especially the case since neither he nor Brown will likely play in Thursday's preseason game between the two teams.

So the practice reps give the coaches and the fans the best way to evaluate the respective players when they are matched up against someone they would likely face in a game situation.

Still, it was only one route. What's more, one-on-one drills are particularly difficult for defensive backs since they are on an island against a wide receiver in a quick-hitting setting.

Gardner and Colts fans will downplay the singular result, while Patriots fans will surely see it as a sign of things to come for Brown in his first season with the team.

It would be surprising if both players aren't excellent during the 2026 campaign. 

After all, Gardner's resume includes a Defensive Rookie of the Year, two First-Team All-Pro selections and two Pro Bowl nods. While injuries limited him to 11 games last season, four of which came with the Colts after they acquired him from the New York Jets, he is still widely considered one of the league's top cornerbacks when healthy.

As for Brown, his list of accomplishments includes a Super Bowl title and three Pro Bowl selections. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and will be expected to do the same as Drake Maye's go-to target in New England.

If that one practice clip was any indication, he likely will surpass 1,000 yards in 2026.