The Patriots got through Week 1 with one more problem than they wanted, and now there’s a clearer picture of what’s going on with A.J. Brown.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Brown is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain after leaving last night’s opener. Rapoport added: "Patriots WR AJ Brown, who left last night's opener because of an injury, is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, per me and @MikeGarafolo," Rapoport reports.
"X-rays were negative for a fracture. Brown has an MRI today to determine how much time he'll miss."
That’s not the kind of update New England wanted, even if the negative X-rays at least rule out a fracture. High-ankle sprains can linger, and while this doesn’t sound like a season-ending situation, it does point to Brown missing some time.
Brown’s injury happened on a short pass from Drake Maye, when he was going to the ground to make the catch. He came up hurt, hobbled off, and never returned. After the game, he was spotted in a walking boot, which made it obvious the issue was real even before the exact diagnosis came out.
Before the injury, Brown had at least managed to be part of the action. He caught three of four targets for 26 yards and also drew a defensive pass interference penalty on an underthrow from Maye that set up a touchdown.
The Patriots brought in two wide receivers this offseason to help Maye, but Week 1 went sideways fast. Romeo Doubs dropped a pass he should’ve caught, Maye threw three interceptions, and Brown got injured. Now the focus shifts to how long Brown will be out, not whether he’ll be back at all.
In Other News...
A.J. Browns Patriots Debut Created An Eagles Concern Nobody Wanted
A.J. Browns first game in New England quickly turned into something the Patriots and the Eagles would both have preferred to avoid. Brown caught three passes for 26 yards before leaving the Patriots 13-10 loss in Seattle with an injury, a development that immediately shifted attention from Drake Mayes uneven outing to the bigger concern surrounding Browns status.
Maye finished 23 of 33 for 178 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, including a costly late pick, but Browns health may end up carrying even more weight as the Patriots head into a tough stretch against Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Buffalo. Brown was later seen in a walking boot, an image nobody around either sideline wanted to process so soon after his debut. [Read more 🡒]
A.J. Browns Patriots Debut Brought Back A Familiar Eagles Concern
A.J. Browns first game with the New England Patriots gave Philadelphia fans an immediate reminder of why his departure came with so much built-in drama. Brown was on the field for the season opener, but he left in the third quarter with an ankle injury, and his day ended without much production beyond three catches for 26 yards. He was also held without a completion on throws of 10 or more air yards, a quiet debut for a player whose impact usually shows up much earlier and much louder.
For Eagles observers, the more familiar part of the story was not the stat line so much as the concern around his availability. Brown dealt with injuries at different points during his time in Philadelphia, and the latest issue only adds to the questions about how often he can stay on the field going forward. Even in a new uniform, the same old durability conversation seems to be following him. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Reason To Watch Two AFC Injury Situations
A.J. Brown's first season away from Philadelphia has already started to intersect with two injury situations the Eagles have every reason to follow closely. The former Eagles wide receiver was hurt in the Patriots' game against Seattle, and the early word is only that the ankle injury's severity is still unclear. For a team that knows Brown's value as well as anyone, any update matters, even if the injury is happening far from the NFC East.
Seattle's quarterback situation adds another layer of interest for Philadelphia observers. Sam Darnold left with a hip injury and Drew Lock had to finish the game, which naturally raises questions about where the Seahawks turn next if the issue lingers. Any quarterback ripple in Seattle can end up touching the Eagles' world, whether through future roster movement or because it keeps names like Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee in the conversation in a way few would have expected just a week ago. [Read more 🡒]