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Any return to an old team tends to be overrun with emotion. Coach Mike Vrabel knows this too well and will see it unfold in real time when the New England Patriots conduct joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles. For the first time, A.J. Brown and Milton Williams will face the 2025 Super Bowl champions while representing the opposing team. Tempers may flare, or other emotions will likely pour out. Regardless of what happens, the Patriots head coach anticipates certain feelings will be heightened. Coach Vrabel says Brown and Williams are set to have emotional Patriots-Eagles joint practice The Patriots are set to have their joint practices with the Eagles on August 19. This is the first time that A.J. Brown and Milton Williams will face their former squad after landing in New England. Brown just landed with the Patriots during the offseason. While Williams has been with them for a season, he hasn't yet faced the Eagles because the two squads haven't clashed since their September 10, 2023 game. Clearly, animosity may lead to more rough tackles during the session and overflowing emotions after it's all done. Coach Mike Vrabel is already expecting all of this. Coach Vrabel knows exactly what Brown and Williams are likely feeling before this encounter with the Eagles. The Patriots head coach also posits that only good things will come of this joint practice despite the history involved, via Carlos A. Lopez of Sleeper HQ. "Milt played there, A.J. played there. I mean, I think these guys are professionals. They’ve shown that they want to practice for us. I’m sure there’s some added feelings for them, but I’m not gonna try to explain what those are. Those are their feelings. Again, they’re a part of our team. We’re really excited to have both of those guys. They’ve practiced hard, whether it was against us or against the Colts. I’m sure we’ll see great efforts from both of them today against the Eagles," Coach Vrabel declared. For context, Brown has been with the Eagles throughout the 2022 to 2025 NFL seasons. He racked up two Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl win by gaining a total of 5,034 receiving yards alongside 32 touchdowns in those four years. Clearly, there are a lot of feelings there. Quinton Mitchell gets the better of AJ Brown, who can’t haul in Drake Maye’s deep ball. (Slightly under-thrown.)#eagles #patriots pic.twitter.com/W3T0KLhWRY — Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) August 19, 2026 Williams, on the other hand, spent his entire career with the Eagles before joining the Patriots in 2025. He got drafted there in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 73rd overall pick. He also won the Super Bowl with them. So, he will be out there to prove that his development out of the Eagles system has been drastic since the last time they saw him. The rest of the Patriots and Eagles will be there to keep any unwarranted flare-up of emotions in check. Hopefully, Coach Vrabel is right, and something good comes out of the joint practice while cooler heads prevail over animosity. The feelings can also be positive, which could amplify their learning in this session. More Patriots and Eagles News: Drake Maye reveals Patriots' main Super Bowl contention hurdle Eagles young and elite defense is reason Philly is primed for success Mike Vrabel unveils Patriots' Super Bowl return plan and it all has to do with 'oranges'