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A.J. Brown is about to walk into a very familiar setting with a very different jersey. The New England Patriots receiver will face his former Philadelphia Eagles teammates during two joint practices this week, creating an obvious emotional subplot before Saturday’s preseason matchup. However, the Patriots HC Mike Vrabel is leaving Brown to handle those feelings himself rather than trying to predict how the reunion will play out. That approach fits the situation. Brown spent years building his reputation with the Eagles, and eventually landed in New England after a turbulent final stretch with the franchise. Now, with the Eagles across the field, Brown gets his first real chance to turn that history into football. Mike Vrabel Praises A.J. Brown’s Maturity Ahead Of Patriots-Eagles Reunion Speaking on August 19, during his press conference ahead of the Patriots’ joint practice with the Eagles, Vrabel acknowledged that Brown and Milton Williams could have extra emotion tied to the matchup. Williams also previously played for the Eagles, making the two-day session a reunion for both Patriots players. “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.” #Patriots HC Mike Vrabel on whether he believes joint practice with the Eagles will be emotional for A.J. Brown and Milton Williams: “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… pic.twitter.com/Yii2sc57pA — Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 19, 2026 Still, Vrabel’s bigger focus was on what Brown has brought to the Patriots since arriving. The coach said Brown has shown noticeable maturity in the building, particularly in how he communicates with teammates and coaches. More importantly, Brown has responded well to coaching and has embraced his responsibility within the offense. That matters because Brown’s transition to the Patriots is about much more than facing his former team. They need the veteran receiver to become a major weapon for Drake Maye after his final season with the Eagles produced 1,003 receiving yards across 15 games. Brown has also been remarkably consistent since joining the Patriots. ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reported Wednesday that he had participated in all 18 Patriots practices during training camp. That workload gives New England a better foundation for building chemistry between Brown and Maye before the regular season arrives. Meanwhile, Williams has become another important piece of Vrabel’s defense. The coach praised his energy, tempo and willingness to chase plays, describing those traits as contagious for the rest of the unit. That makes his reunion with the Eagles another storyline worth watching during the practices. And for Brown, the reunion arrives with an opportunity to let his football do the talking. Related reading: Mike Florio has strong words about Tom Brady’s dual role with the Raiders Brock Rechsteiner’s viral moment arrives at the worst point of his rookie summer LOOK: Clark Hunt’s Daughter Lands Cheerleader Spot With ACC Team After Chiefs Family Spotlight Patrick Mahomes Gets Negative Career Update Despite Being Cleared for Training Camp