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A.J. Brown did not need a long speech to acknowledge the most anticipated reunion of New England Patriots training camp. Brown arrived at Wednesday’s joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles, looked toward the opposing sideline and delivered a playful message loud enough for reporters to hear. “I see some old friends,” Brown said, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Those six words captured what made the practice so fascinating. Brown remains close with several former teammates, but he now is responsible for helping the Patriots measure themselves against the team that traded him less than three months ago. A.J. Brown Keeps Reunion Light Brown spent four seasons in Philadelphia and became one of the most productive receivers in franchise history. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, earned three straight second-team All-Pro selections and helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. His final season in Philadelphia was complicated by questions about his role, frustration with the offense and his changing relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts. From the media tent: A.J. Brown arrives and says, “I see some old friends.” pic.twitter.com/yMoH626q7D — Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 19, 2026 Brown previously acknowledged that he and Hurts were not as close as they once were, but he maintained there was no animosity between them. Hurts also is the godfather of Brown’s daughter, creating a bond that extends well beyond football. Brown similarly attempted to dismiss the revenge narrative before the Eagles arrived in Foxboro. “It’s not a game. It’s practice. It’s no revenge,” Brown said earlier in training camp. “We won a Super Bowl. It’s no revenge.” His relaxed arrival Wednesday supported that message. Brown did not appear interested in creating a confrontation or making the two-day session about bitterness. That did not mean the competition lacked personal significance. MORE: Mike Vrabel Identifies Patriots’ Biggest Test Against Eagles Patriots Get First Look At Blockbuster Trade Philadelphia traded Brown to New England on June 1 in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection. The deal provided Brown with a fresh start and reunited him with Mike Vrabel, who coached the receiver during his first three NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans. More importantly for New England, it gave Drake Maye the proven No. 1 receiver the Patriots lacked. Brown and Maye entered the Eagles practices with encouraging momentum. The duo produced the play of Monday’s practice when Maye connected with Brown for a long touchdown, prompting both the quarterback and Vrabel to raise one finger in celebration. Philadelphia’s secondary presents a much tougher examination. Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Tariq Woolen give the Eagles multiple options for challenging Brown physically and preventing him from creating explosive plays. Those matchups should show how far Brown’s connection with Maye has progressed before the regular season. Vrabel called the joint practices “a really good measuring stick” for the Patriots. No player will attract more attention during that evaluation than Brown. The receiver saw plenty of familiar faces when he walked onto the practice field Wednesday. By the end of the two sessions, the Patriots hope those former teammates also see exactly how dangerous Brown can make New England’s offense.