A.J. Brown makes Patriots debut against Seahawks, but fantasy managers left frustrated

Wide receiver A.J. Brown made his first official appearance for the New England Patriots on Wednesday night, September 9, in the season-opening road game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The matchup was a rematch of last season's Super Bowl LX, which, according to the sources, the Seahawks won.

From Eagles to Patriots

Brown was acquired by New England this offseason in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. According to Yahoo Sports, the Patriots gave up a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in the deal. Ahead of the game, several commentators, including former Patriots player Julian Edelman, predicted a strong season for Brown and the team's receiving corps.

First catch, limited usage

According to highlights compiled by NFL.com, Brown's first catch as a Patriot went for a 7-yard gain from quarterback Drake Maye. However, Bleacher Report reported that fans on social media expressed frustration that Brown, along with fellow skill-position players Romeo Doubs, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Seattle running back Jadarian Price, saw surprisingly few touches in the first half given the high expectations heading into the game.

Context: new faces on both sides

The Boston Globe noted that compared to the Super Bowl LX starting lineup, the Patriots could field 8-10 new starters in the opener, including Brown, Doubs, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre'Mont Jones, and Kevin Byard. Seattle also saw changes, with running back Jadarian Price replacing Kenneth Walker, who was named Super Bowl MVP last season.

Separately, Yahoo Sports reported that Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was knocked out of the game at some point — the sources do not provide further details on this, and it is unrelated to A.J. Brown's participation in the game.