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NFL·PREVIEW·October 22, 2026 06:49 PM ET

WR A.J. Brown warms up with pregame tennis-ball routine

He arrived at the stadium four hours before kickoff.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 34m1 min read
Post on X
On the scene: WR A.J. Brown with the tennis balls, à la Julian Edelman. https://t.co/ppf15q62TN Via @MikeReiss on X

What happened: Brown worked through hand-eye coordination drills on the field prior to Thursday's kickoff, adopting the pregame routine popularized by former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, per Mike Reiss. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez also took the field at Soldier Field for early pregame loosening ahead of the matchup.

Why it matters: The Patriots activated Brown from injured reserve to the 53-man roster on Oct. 17 after limited practices cleared his return from an ankle sprain. Following his initial game back in the lineup, Brown stated there were no excuses for his play and focused on reviewing film to get back on track. His availability carries added importance for the passing game while receivers Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs remain on injured reserve.

What to watch: Brown's workload and target share at Soldier Field will gauge his progression in his second outing since returning from injured reserve.

Sources

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