A.J. Brown faces former Eagles teammates as Patriots open camp vs. Brown’s old club

A.J. Brown will step onto the same turf where he spent four seasons as the Eagles’ top receiver: but now in a Patriots uniform: when New England and Philadelphia hold joint training camp practices in Foxborough on 12 Aug 2026.

What happened?

The Eagles shipped Brown to the Patriots in June after he spent four seasons in Philadelphia, where he piled up 5,034 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in the regular season and helped the franchise beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Brown’s final game in an Eagles uniform came in the 2026 wild-card round against the 49ers, a 24-17 loss at Lincoln Financial Field. He managed three catches for 25 yards on seven targets, dropped two passes, and was booed by home fans after his second miscue in the fourth quarter.

Why it matters for A.J. Brown

Brown finished the 2025 season with 78 catches, 1,003 yards, and seven scores for Philadelphia, numbers that still rank among the league’s best. His exit left a void in an offense that leaned on him as a go-to target, and his sideline blowup with coach Nick Sirianni during the 49ers game only deepened the divide. Now 28, Brown brings 8,029 career receiving yards and 56 touchdowns: accrued with Tennessee and Philadelphia: to a Patriots roster that already features Mike Vrabel, the coach who drafted him in 2019.

What Cooper DeJean said

At Fanatics Fest in New York, rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean was asked about the potential rematch. “I’m ready for it,” DeJean said. “It’s football. You play who’s on the schedule.” The 2024 first-round pick added that the league thrives on fresh rivalries, even those born from past teams.

What comes next?

The Patriots and Eagles will share the field in August, giving Brown his first chance to face his former teammates since the trade. Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ Pro Bowl quarterback, enters 2026 with 17,891 passing yards and 110 touchdowns in his career, plus 3,554 rushing yards and 63 rushing scores. Hurts and Brown’s friendship famously unraveled after the 49ers loss, leaving the door open for sparks when the two sides reconvene in Massachusetts.