The New England Patriots’ big night in Seattle turned into a brutal setback almost immediately, as AJ Brown’s debut ended with a severe right ankle injury that will now sideline him for at least four games.
Brown was hurt Wednesday night against the Seahawks in the early part of the third quarter, on a low throw from quarterback Drake Maye. As he went to the ground trying to haul in the pass, a defender’s knee came down hard on his ankle. Brown reacted right away, clutching his leg and limping slowly to the sideline in obvious pain.
An MRI on Thursday morning confirmed the worst for New England: Brown suffered a severe high-ankle sprain in the season opener. The Patriots then moved quickly, placing their marquee offseason acquisition on injured reserve.
That leaves the team without the receiver it brought in to be a centerpiece of the offense, and the timing couldn’t be much tougher. Brown lasted barely half of one night in Seattle, and the Patriots now have to figure out how to move forward after an offense that already struggled without him.
The injured reserve designation guarantees Brown will miss a minimum of four games, and rookie quarterback Drake Maye now loses his clear top target during an important stretch.
Head coach Mike Vrabel had addressed the uncertainty before the roster move became official. “Once we get the report, we’ll figure out what the treatment plan is,” Vrabel previously explained.
With Brown out, the pressure shifts to the rest of New England’s receiving group. According to the team’s depth chart, Romeo Doubs and veteran Mack Hollins are the next players who will need to take on bigger roles.
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Patriots Suddenly Face A Bigger A.J. Brown Problem Than Expected
The Patriots receiver picture took an immediate hit when A.J. Brown went on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1. The original expectation was a four-week absence, which already would have tested New Englands depth and timing on offense early in the season.
Now the recovery window sounds longer, with reports suggesting Brown could miss up to six weeks and not be back until around Week 8. No surgery is planned, which is at least a good sign, but it leaves the Patriots waiting longer than they first hoped for a key piece of the passing game to get back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Fans Can Already Judge Vrabels Best And Worst Trades
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What makes the list interesting is how much of it is still being judged in real time, because several of the swaps hinge on players whose impact in New England remains limited so far. The draft capital attached to those moves matters too, since the Patriots have been working through a broader plan that blends immediate roster fixes with longer-term bets, and not every trade can be graded the same way when the results are still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Hunter Henry Is Closing In On Rare Patriots Company
The Patriots left Seattle with a loss, but Hunter Henry still walked away with another reminder of how important he has become to the offense. The veteran tight end is closing in on 3,000 receiving yards, a mark that would put him in rare company among the teams all-time receiving leaders at his position and add another line to a rsum that already reflects his value far beyond the box score.
Drake Maye has made it clear Henrys influence reaches well beyond the routes he runs, praising him for the mentorship and leadership he brings to a young offense. With the Patriots dealing with A.J. Browns high-ankle sprain and the uncertainty that comes with moving pieces around a passing game, Henrys steadiness matters even more, and the next milestone is suddenly sitting right in front of him. [Read more 🡒]