New England traded a future first-round pick to land wide receiver AJ Brown from the Eagles this offseason, betting his presence alone could tilt the offense toward a second straight Super Bowl run. Danny Amendola, who caught passes in Foxborough during two championship seasons, just got his first up-close look at what New England is banking on — and he liked what he saw.
Amendola met Brown in person for the first time recently and stuck around to watch him work through a practice session. According to DJ Siddiqi of the Action Network, the former Patriots receiver didn’t hold back on his impressions afterward.
“I talked to him today. First time I met him, great dude. I wanted to see how he works in practice, and I think he got 25 plays today. Probably caught six or seven balls. You can really feel the standard elevate in that room when he steps on the field,” Amendola said, per Action Network. “These guys have playoff experience, Super Bowl experience, so they know what championship level of communication, championship level of execution looks like. He’s really elevated the group, which is exciting for me to see.”
Amendola also described the moment he introduced himself to Brown for the first time. It was short, direct, and about what you’d expect from one Patriots receiver to another.
“I just said, ‘Welcome to England, man. Huge fan, and stay healthy and ball out.’ He gave me a big AJ Brown smile, and seems like a great dude,” Amendola said. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders, and I’m excited for him to be here in Foxborough.”
Brown Is Already Battling Through Camp
The excitement around Brown hasn’t come without a bump — literally. Brown dislocated his left thumb during a one-on-one rep against cornerback Christian Gonzalez at a recent training camp practice, popping it back into place on his own rather than come off the field, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported. He finished the session as a full participant and caught a pair of touchdowns afterward.
Brown told NFL Network he’d dealt with the same injury once before, back at Ole Miss, and didn’t miss a game then either. Head coach Mike Vrabel wasn’t worried, either, comparing it to the kind of thing offensive linemen play through constantly without anyone noticing.
It’s a small moment, but it fits the picture Amendola painted — a veteran receiver who treats practice like it matters, injury or not.
The Patriots Believe They’ve Found Their Missing Piece
Everything New England has built this offseason points toward one goal: giving quarterback Drake Maye a true No. 1 target after his breakout run to the Super Bowl. Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler with a track record of stretching defenses vertically, is that swing for the fences.
The fit matters schematically, too. Maye thrived last season working through a rotation of complementary targets rather than one true alpha receiver. Brown’s presence changes that math — he draws safety help and one-on-one coverage that should open things up underneath for the rest of the group, the same trickle-down effect he had in Philadelphia during his best seasons there.
Amendola’s read on it lines up with what New England is hoping happens on Sundays: a receiver room that raises its floor the moment a proven closer steps into the huddle.
Brown and Maye are still building chemistry early in camp, working through the usual growing pains of a new pairing. But between Amendola’s endorsement and Brown playing through a dislocated thumb without blinking, the early signs point toward a receiver who’s already setting the tone New England hoped for when it made the trade.
