What happened: CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco raised concerns Thursday about A.J. Brown rejoining the New England Patriots lineup, questioning how the wide receiver will react if targets do not go his way. Prisco pointed to friction at Brown's previous stops when his offensive touches dipped.

Why it matters: The remarks come one day after the Patriots opened the practice window for A.J. Brown following an injury absence that dates back to Sept. 10. Integrating a high-volume target back into the passing attack forces New England to balance offensive distribution while managing locker-room chemistry.

What to watch: New England will evaluate Brown on the practice field before deciding when to activate him to the 53-man roster.