Possible Patriots Trade Target Will Miss Week 8 Game, Casting Doubt on Deal A potential trade target for the New England Patriots won’t take the field in Week 8, further dimming the chances that a deal comes together before the NFL trade deadline. What once looked like a speculative fit now appears increasingly unlikely as the clock ticks down.Ng1

An injury may diminish the already unlikely chance of the New England Patriots reuniting Mike Vrabel with a star player before the NFL’s Nov. 4 trade deadline.

The Philadelphia Eagles ruled out A.J. Brown for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. The Pro Bowl wide receiver will miss his first game of the 2025 season due to a hamstring injury.

MassLive’s Mark Daniels and The Athletic’s Chad Graff are among the numerous writers who have mentioned Brown as a potential Patriots trade target. He spent the first three seasons of his career playing for Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans before getting traded to Philadelphia.

It’s not often that an elite player for the defending Super Bowl champion draws significant speculation as a midseason trade candidate. The 5-2 Eagles certainly aren’t sellers, but Brown has expressed some frustration about the team’s inconsistent passing offense.

Brown has 56.4 receiving yards per game this season, a significant dip from his 85.8 average through three seasons with the Eagles. He finished two September games with single-digit yards, but the 28-year-old quieted some concern by registering 121 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday’s 28-22 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Eagles have a Week 9 bye, so Brown won’t play for them before the trade deadline. That could lessen the odds of him going anywhere, and Philadelphia was reportedly already telling teams he’s not available.

Even if the Eagles dangled Brown on the trade block, the Patriots reportedly aren’t focused on acquiring receiving help over the next dozen days. They’re instead setting their sights on a pass rusher.