Wide receiver A.J. Brown said opposing defenses are intentionally trying to limit his impact over his first three games with the New England Patriots.
"It's just kind of how the game is," Brown told reporters after New England's 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football, according to CLNS Media. "I know what type of player I am, and I know that that's always the case.
"Every time I line up, I get a lot of attention. So teams are starting to take me away. That gives a lot of opportunities for other guys to make plays and soften that up for me, and then when I get my shots, I got to make them."
Brown finished Thursday night's game with three catches on six targets for 48 receiving yards. He played over 90% of the offensive snaps and ran a team-leading 33 routes, according to TruMedia.
Thursday night was Brown's second game back following a four-game absence after he suffered an ankle sprain in the season opener and landed on injured reserve.
The 29-year-old is averaging 33.7 receiving yards per game in three contests since the Patriots acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in June for a 2028 first-round pick. Among 103 qualified wideouts this season, Brown ranks 87th in drop rate (10%) and 95th in yards per target (5).
"There's no time for that," Brown said when asked about getting back in sync with the Patriots' offense after missing time. "I'm in Week 3. ... I just gotta go out here and try to put my best foot forward and go out and make plays."
The Patriots dropped to 4-3 with the defeat and will look to bounce back against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8.
