The Patriots are heading to Miami short-handed, and the list of missing pieces keeps getting longer.
A.J. Brown will miss his fifth game of the 2026 season after being downgraded to out for Sunday’s Week 8 matchup, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Brown is dealing with ankle and knee injuries. TreVeyon Henderson also won’t play after leaving the team facility Thursday with an illness.
That leaves New England without Brown, Henderson, Mack Hollins, and Romeo Doubs against the Dolphins, forcing the offense to lean hard on what’s left. There was some brief uncertainty around Brown after Mike Vrabel’s Friday media availability, but that turned out to be little more than gamesmanship. Daniel Rotman reported the team was planning to shut Brown down for multiple weeks, and Rotman stood by that report after Vrabel labeled Brown questionable Friday and said no decisions had been made before the team would evaluate him Saturday.
With so many bodies missing, the Patriots’ supporting cast suddenly matters a lot more.
Corey Kiner is one name to watch. His workload was already trending up, and he could see his biggest snap share yet against Miami.
New England used him as a closer in the Jets game two weeks ago, when he logged a season-high 11 carries, gained 57 yards, and ripped off a long run of 12. Rhamondre Stevenson should still handle as much as he can, but Kiner could get more early touches if the Patriots want to attack the Dolphins before the game settles in.
Tight end Eli Raridon also looks like a possible difference-maker. Last week against the Bears, 17 of Drake Maye’s 24 completions went to running backs and tight ends, and that kind of distribution could show up again with DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism, and Kyle Williams the only healthy wide receivers on the active roster.
Raridon already flashed against Chicago with a 30-yard touchdown catch, and Pro Football Focus says he’s lined up either wide or in the slot on more than 25 percent of his snaps this season. With New England thin on the boundary, the 6-foot-7 Raridon could be part of the answer.
Then there’s Douglas, who may be asked to carry even more of the load. He spent most of his sophomore season in 2024 as Maye’s de facto No. 1 receiver, and that connection could come back into play Sunday.
Over the last three games, Douglas has turned 17 targets into 14 catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns. He has lined up in the slot on 75 percent of his snaps this season, but the Patriots may need him outside more often in Miami because of their lack of perimeter options.
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