What happened: On Nightcap, Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson, and Joe Johnson reacted to the New England Patriots designating 29-year-old wide receiver A.J. Brown to return from injured reserve. On the show, Sharpe and his co-hosts noted that Brown is returning to practice for the first time since suffering a grade 2 high-ankle sprain in Week 1 and going on IR on Sept. 12. The hosts stated they expect New England to force-feed Brown the ball early against the New York Jets after he missed four games.

Why it matters: The Nightcap hosts emphasized that getting a reliable target back on first, second, and third down provides a major boost to a Patriots offense coming off a decisive win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Sharpe pointed out the frustration of a player joining a new team in the offseason only to get hurt in the season opener, adding that Brown is eager to prove his value to New England.

What to watch: The Patriots have 21 days to activate Brown to the active roster, or he will remain on injured reserve for the rest of the 2026 regular season as New England prepares to face the Jets.