A.J. Brown’s return could be right around the corner, and the Patriots may not have to wait long for help in other spots either.
After a win over the Bills and with a home game against the Raiders up next, New England is starting to get some encouraging injury news. The biggest item remains Brown, who went down in Week 1 against the Seahawks with a high ankle sprain and landed on injured reserve. That kept him out for at least four games, but it also opened the door for a Week 6 return.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo said that return is very much in play.
“The hope is that he’ll be back Week 6. Now that’s a hope, it’s not a firm one.
But that’s when he’s eligible to return. We’ll see how that goes.”
For a Patriots offense that has felt the loss of its top receiver, that’s the kind of update that matters. Brown’s absence has been a major hit to the receiving corps and has played a part in some of Drake Maye’s struggles.
There was more good news on the injury front before Sunday’s games. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that both Brenden Schooler and Marcus Bryant are eligible to come off injured reserve this week and could be available against the Raiders at Gillette Stadium in Week 5.
Bryant’s status looks especially promising. He was in the locker room last week, which points to him being close. Schooler has also been around the team for the past two weeks before and during games, and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer said that presence felt like having another coach in the building.
If both are activated next week, it would give the Patriots a real boost. Bryant is needed badly on an offensive line that has been shaky on the right side since Mike Onwenu broke his ankle in Week 2, and Schooler’s return would strengthen a special teams group that has missed his impact all season.
With the schedule easing up, New England has a chance to get healthier fast. And right now, that possibility is starting to look real.
In Other News...
Patriots Have A Gabe Jacas Opportunity They Can't Ignore
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Gabe Jacas is part of why this conversation matters in the first place. The Patriots appear to have a young player whose game shares some traits with Macks, and pairing him with a proven pro could accelerate that development in a hurry. Whether New England decides the price is worth it remains the real question, but the fit is easy to see, and the need is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Be Eyeing A Veteran Fix For Their Run Game
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Williams brings eight NFL seasons of experience and a resume that includes a strong 2022 campaign with the Detroit Lions, which makes him the kind of established option teams often check on when they want insurance at running back. The Patriots have not signed him yet, but they have kept roster spots open for exactly this kind of addition, leaving the door open as they weigh whether a veteran presence fits their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Are Getting Early Proof They Made The Right WR Call
The Patriots spent the offseason reshaping their wide receiver room, bringing in A.J. Brown in a trade and signing Romeo Doubs while moving on from Stefon Diggs and dealing Kayshon Boutte. It was the kind of aggressive reset that can look smart on paper and awkward on the field early, especially after Brown landed on injured reserve and Doubs had a rough start before finding his footing over the last few games.
Romeo Doubs recent improvement has given New England at least a little early validation for how it handled the position, even if the full picture is still developing. Across the league, former Patriots target Michael Pittman Jr. has not exactly stormed out of the gate after being traded to the Steelers, with his production lagging behind the expectations that came with his extension, and that contrast only sharpens how much these receiver decisions matter for a team trying to get the room right. [Read more 🡒]