New England Patriots
“He is obtained a knee that has some put on and tear that we have been conscious of. Our coaching workers and medical workers signed off on it.”
The Patriots knew that A.J. Brown has a degenerative knee situation earlier than they traded for him, government vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf mentioned in a report from Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday.
Brown handed his bodily, and the commerce turned official on Monday. New England despatched a 2028 first-round decide and a 2027 fifth-round decide to Philadelphia in trade for Brown.
“It’s an element, however we examined him,” Wolf mentioned. “He’s obtained a knee that has some put on and tear that we have been conscious of. Our coaching workers and medical workers signed off on it.”
Brown instructed reporters throughout his introductory press convention on Tuesday that he didn’t really feel involved about his knee.
“No harm. Nothing to fret about,” Brown mentioned. “I believe this complete little – you must perceive the place I got here from, so any dialog about something goes to return up. Possibly in 4 years, I’ve missed one sport from a shot to the knee, so I’m good, I’m able to go.”
Nevertheless, there have been rumblings that Brown’s knee situation might have been a priority for different groups.
“The Rams, they have been concerned in commerce negotiations with the Eagles,” the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane mentioned throughout a current look on the “Uncovering the Birds” podcast. “And reportedly, and from what I perceive, I’ve confirmed that as nicely, that they’d gotten medicals and so they weren’t happy with what they noticed and that’s type of why they backed out.”
The commerce marketplace for Brown seemed to be much less strong than it as soon as was. Wolf started calling the Eagles about Brown two years in the past and the response was “incredulous” in line with the Yahoo! report. When the Patriots tried once more this previous February, the Eagles have been extra open.
Brown has by no means performed in lower than 13 video games in any of his seven NFL regular-seasons. Nevertheless, the 1,003 receiving yards he gained final 12 months have been the second-fewest of his profession. His 12.9 yards per catch have been a profession low. His longest catch final season went for 45 yards, additionally a career-low.
Brown will flip 29 on the finish of this month. He’s a three-time Professional Bowler with six 1,000 yard seasons, and he helped the Eagles win a Tremendous Bowl title in 2024.
Coach Mike Vrabel and several other members of his teaching workers know Brown from their time in Tennessee. Vrabel was the Titans head coach for the primary three years of Brown’s profession.
“Once more, while you get to speak about 90 guys or 91 guys, there’s going to be a unique plan for each single man,” Vrabel mentioned when requested about Brown’s knee situation on Tuesday. “And once more, I believe that wanting on the physique of labor and the provision that he’s been in a position to have, and whether or not we’ve got to handle him or anyone else.”
“It’s a protracted season; there shall be issues that we’ll should take care of, and we’ll strive to try this accordingly. However simply primarily based on taking a look at his availability within the video games that he’s been in a position to play in and be there for his staff, I believe that hopefully results in future availability.”
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