The Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks got a lot uglier when A.J. Brown went down in the third quarter with an ankle injury, and now New England is staring at the possibility of being without its star wideout for a stretch.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported that X-rays came back negative for a fracture, but the early read is a high-ankle sprain. Garafolo put it this way: "The preliminary diagnosis on Patriots WR A.J.
Brown is a high-ankle sprain, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport," Garafolo reported. "MRI today after X-rays were negative.
Timeline for his return is TBD." The recovery window could run anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on how severe it is.
That leaves the Patriots looking for help, especially after trading Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans last month. One name that has suddenly popped onto the board is Darius Slayton, who the New York Giants surprisingly released this week.
The move caught attention because the Giants were already thin at receiver and gave up a productive veteran anyway. Slayton isn’t a direct replacement for Brown, but he does bring a track record of production that would help stabilize New England’s passing game.
He has topped 500 receiving yards in six of his seven NFL seasons, and four of those years included finishes above 700 yards. That kind of steady output makes him a logical short-term fix while Brown is sidelined.
A splashier answer would obviously be better for the Patriots, but at this point in the 2026 campaign, that kind of move may not even be out there. Slayton looks like the kind of practical addition that could help New England keep things afloat until Brown gets back.
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Giants Suddenly Look Poised For A Huge Week 1 Boost Against Dallas
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John Harbaugh, though, wasnt offering any clarity beyond what showed up on the report. He kept his answer brief when asked about Nabers and declined to get into the status of other players, leaving the Giants with some hope but not much certainty heading into one of the biggest games on their early schedule. [Read more 🡒]