A.J. Brown’s 2026 regular-season receiving touchdown total hinges on his recovery from a high ankle sprain sustained in Week 1 with the Patriots. Traded from Philadelphia in June for a 2028 first-round pick and 2027 fifth-rounder, the 29-year-old wideout joined Drake Maye’s offense as the clear top target but managed just three catches for 26 yards and zero touchdowns before landing on injured reserve. High-ankle sprains typically sideline players four to eight weeks, placing his earliest return around mid-October and leaving him with roughly 12 or fewer games. Brown posted exactly seven receiving scores in each of his prior three seasons with the Eagles while averaging over 1,000 yards, though his yards per game dipped in 2025. Progress reports note he is walking comfortably without a limp, yet the Patriots’ passing attack and his target share will determine whether he can approach his recent touchdown pace once active.