Thursday’s practice at Patriots camp featured some fireworks between wide receiver A.J. Brown and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Reporters at the workout said Gonzalez appeared to be talking trash to Brown after knocking a pass away from the wideout during a drill where they were matched up against one another. Brown engaged with the corner and wideout Kayshon Boutte stepped in to steer Brown away before things got any more heated.

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After practice, Gonzalez said that he thinks situations like that will help both players prepare for the weekly battles they have ahead of them.

“It’s good on good,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a No. 1 receiver in this league going up against a No. 1 corner. That’s how it’s going to go. It’s football at the end of the day. There’s never no disrespect or anything. We’re just battling and getting each other better. He’s going to face corners like that, that are going to yap at him and going to try to get in his head, and I’m going to face receivers like that who are strong and come right back at me. It’s great work for the both of us.”

The Patriots have another week to go before their first game against another team, but they will get a chance to tangle with the Colts in a joint practice on Tuesday.