A.J. Brown Debuts at Patriots OTA as Depth Players Move Up
Brown’s first limited reps start a chemistry process that gives the Patriots a controlled way to assess depth before a shortened mandatory minicamp.
Overview
- A.J. Brown passed his physical and on Tuesday made his first appearance in Patriots practices, taking positional work and a handful of full-team reps that included a Drake Maye completion on an outside hitch.
- Voluntary, non-contact OTAs have elevated slot options with DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism III each catching four passes and earning extended looks from the offense.
- Multiple absences and limited participants at cornerback and along the offensive line opened opportunities for second-year CB Kobee Minor to work extended slot snaps and for Leonard Taylor III to tip two passes at the line.
- Julian Hill was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending injury and Jack Westover has assumed the No. 2 tight end role while the Patriots continue to shuffle backup offensive-line reps after Morgan Moses left practice.
- Coach Mike Vrabel shortened the OTA schedule from nine sessions to six and moved mandatory minicamp to June 9-11 to complete physicals and concentrate three days of full-team work before training camp.