A.J. Brown’s status is suddenly one of the bigger questions hanging over the Patriots as they head to Germany, and Mike Vrabel made it sound like the team is leaning toward bringing him along.
Brown has spent much of the season on the sideline after dealing with ankle and knee injuries, appearing in only three games so far. In those outings, he has nine catches and no touchdowns, a start that hasn’t matched what the Patriots were expecting when they traded two picks for him in June.
The wideout has already missed two straight games, sitting out the trip to Miami and the home matchup with Green Bay. During both weeks, he didn’t practice at all and was only seen briefly in the locker room while reporters were around.
Asked Monday whether Brown could make the trip for Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, Vrabel didn’t shut the door.
"Yeah, I think that that’s the plan. Certainly, there’s no decision on that, but I would imagine that that’s the plan," head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday.
"We’ll continue to work to get guys back, be healthy and help the football team. That’s the goal.
"So, to be able to answer that right now, today, I can’t do that with a few guys. But, I know that the plan is to try to get everybody that can help us to get on the plane on Wednesday, go over there and help us win."
The Patriots have been piecing things together at receiver without Brown and without Romeo Doubs, who is on IR with a shoulder injury. DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III carried the load until Mack Hollins was activated off IR because of a calf issue. Even so, Brown’s return would give the offense a different look, especially with his size and ability.
The timing could work in the Patriots’ favor, too. Their bye comes right after the international game, giving banged-up players a chance to reset before the stretch run.
Vrabel also explained that the team is handling the Germany trip differently this time. Instead of following the pattern used by Patriots teams in 2023 and 2024, they’re leaving a day earlier.
"We’re going over a day early. We want to try to get work in here as much as we can get done Wednesday, walkthrough Thursday," Vrabel said.
"Then maybe have a day where we’re acclimated, where Friday can resemble what we feel like is a Friday practice here. In my past, I think you travel, you land and try to have a Friday practice.
I don’t know if that necessarily mirrors a Friday practice that we would have here. So, the hope is to try to get over there and to get acclimated enough to where we can have a good day on Friday."
With the Patriots set to leave Wednesday night, there isn’t much time left for Brown’s status to be finalized. For now, the expectation is that the team will try to get him on the plane and see if he can be part of the trip to Germany.
In Other News...
Patriots Already Have One Clear Free Agent Surprise
The Patriots spent the offseason adding veteran help with an eye on the 2026 season, but one of the clearest early surprises has come on the defensive side. Kevin Byard arrived with the kind of reputation that usually raises expectations in New England, yet his play has not matched the standard the team likely envisioned when it brought him in.
At the same time, DreMont Jones has quietly become one of the more encouraging additions, even if the box score has not always reflected it. His impact has shown up in ways that matter to the Patriots defense, and the next stretch could get even more interesting with injured offensive players Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker eligible to return after the Week 11 bye, giving the roster another chance to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Corey Kiner Suddenly Has A Real Opening In Patriots Backfield
Corey Kiner is suddenly in line for a much bigger piece of the Patriots backfield, and the timing matters. With the running back room thinned by injuries, New England may need Kiner to do more than just fill snaps, especially after he has already flashed in limited work this season and shown he can handle a meaningful workload when called upon.
For an offense trying to keep Drake Maye from carrying too much of the load, Kiners emergence could be a useful pressure valve. The Patriots have been searching for steady answers on the ground, and his recent production has at least given them a reason to believe there is something worth building on if the opportunities keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Have A Right Tackle Debate They Cant Ignore
The Patriots offensive line has become one of the quieter but more pressing issues on the roster, and the conversation at right tackle is starting to sharpen around a familiar name and a rookie option. Morgan Moses has been the veteran presence on the edge, but the line around him has been banged up enough that New England has to weigh whether a younger answer could help stabilize both pass protection and the run game.
Caleb Lomu is the player forcing that discussion. His college tape suggests a tackle with the kind of movement and reliability the Patriots could use, and the early signs have been encouraging enough to keep his name in the mix. For now, there is no official decision, which leaves New England with a familiar training camp sort of dilemma: stick with the veteran and hope the line settles down, or make the switch before the protection issues become harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]