A.J. Brown’s 2026 receiving yards outlook centers on his midseason recovery from a high ankle sprain sustained in Week 1 with the Patriots, where he managed just 26 yards before landing on injured reserve. The offseason trade from Philadelphia brought him into a Drake Maye-led offense projected for higher passing volume than recent Eagles schemes, building on Brown’s four straight 1,000-yard seasons through 2024 and his 1,003 yards in 15 games during 2025. At age 29, his durability remains a key variable after multiple missed games in recent years, with return eligibility around Week 6 and positive early rehab updates potentially allowing a ramp-up in targets. Historical per-game averages near 80 yards when healthy support elevated totals if he secures a full complement of snaps in New England’s passing attack.