Wide receiver A.J. Brown could be on the field Sunday when the New England Patriots host the New York Jets in an AFC East matchup in Foxborough, Mass.
Brown was a limited practice participant three straight days in his first on-field work since sustaining a high ankle sprain in New England’s Week 1 loss to Seattle. The Patriots listed him as questionable on Friday.
The Patriots (3-2) have 21 days to activate Brown from injured reserve, or he will remain on the list for the rest of the season.
“We won’t make that decision until (Saturday),” Vrabel said of Brown’s status on Friday. “I try to see where his conditioning level is and see where he may feel here after practice today.”
Brown caught three passes for 26 yards before injuring his ankle in the third quarter of the Week 1 loss.
The Jets (2-3) ended a three-game losing streak by beating Cleveland 17-12 last week. Jets coach Aaron Glenn downplayed any notion of extra motivation entering a game against a divisional opponent that has beaten New York 18 of the last 20 times they’ve met.
“We really don’t focus on what happened in the past when it comes to us. We just focus on what’s happening right now. Division games are definitely crucial. Sometimes people say they count as two games. But the only thing we’re focused on is this is the one game that we have to play, the one game we want to win, the one game we have to prepare for.”
The Jets have committed just three turnovers through five games, with quarterback Geno Smith throwing six touchdown passes and no interceptions on 147 attempts.
“He’s done a fantastic job,” Vrabel said. “And so, if you want to try to create turnovers, you’re going to have to actually go out and force them. He hasn’t made many mistakes. He’s been really good with the football.”
New York wide receiver Garrett Wilson has 31 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns.
“Any time we can get Garrett involved, good things happen, and that showed (Sunday),” New York coach Aaron Glenn said. “He’s an elite receiver, he’s highly competitive and he can make catches that some guys just can’t.”
New England cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis III (neck) each missed New England’s victory over Las Vegas with injuries. Gonzalez practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and is set to play, but Davis didn’t practice all week and was ruled out Friday.
Patriots cornerback Karon Prunty (hamstring) also was ruled out after not practicing all week.
The Jets have the NFL’s fifth-best scoring defense (19.2 ppg) and will be facing a New England offense that includes ailing players in running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and starting left tackle Will Campbell (knee). Henderson and Campbell were both injured against the Raiders and both are listed as questionable to face New York.
Also listed as questionable for New England: tackle Marcus Bryant (ankle), cornerback Channing Canada (hamstring), linebacker Christian Elliss (chest) and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder).
New England quarterback Drake Maye was intercepted seven times during New England’s first four games, but completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns without an interception during the Patriots’ 45-17 victory over Las Vegas last week.
“He’s had a couple of games where he didn’t play as well, but now you see exactly who he is. … They will never stay in that rut for a long time, especially guys of his magnitude,” Glenn said. “The way he’s getting the ball down the field, we have to do a really good job of making sure we defend the deep ball.”
For the Jets, running back Breece Hall (quad), wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger), edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle) and left guard Dylan Parham (knee) were ruled out. Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle), tight end Kenyon Sadiq (concussion) and safety Dane Belton (knee) are questionable.
–Field Level Media
