A.J. Brown Didn't Have 'Best Effort' with Career-High Drops in Injury Return, Patriots' Vrabel Says

In his first game since Week 1, A.J. Brown had just three receptions for 27 yards and dropped a career-high three passes as the New England Patriots beat the New York Jets.

After the game, head coach Mike Vrabel said the veteran receiver didn't have his "best effort" in the game.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't his best effort," Vrabel said. "I know that, he knows that. We have all the confidence in the world in A.J. to finish the plays."

Brown was targeted 10 times in Sunday's game, so quarterback Drake Maye gave him plenty of opportunities to make something happen, but it ultimately wasn't his day.

Brown even failed to recover an onside kick, though his teammates bailed him out of what could've been a costly mistake.

Brown, who was traded to the Patriots from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks and landed on the injury reserve. While he's been out for the last four games, he said his ankle injury isn't an excuse for his performance on Sunday.

"There's no excuses. I stacked my guy, should've made the play. I beat my guy on third down, should've made the play," Brown told reporters. "So, ankle or not, gotta make all those plays."

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Brown figures to be one of Maye's top targets this year, but the Patriots can't afford more drops as they try to get back to the Super Bowl.

New England has a short week and will face the Chicago Bears on Thursday, and Brown is looking to turn things around when he takes the field next.

"Just tryna get going again, best foot forward, put this to be really fast," Brown said. "I'm gonna watch the tape. It's over. I'm gonna flush it."