Patriots WR A.J. Brown Out 4 Weeks With High Ankle Sprain

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown is expected to miss at least four weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain during the team’s season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks. An MRI scan confirmed the injury on Thursday, according to a report by NFL Network citing an unnamed source.

The injury threatens to place the team’s newly acquired top target on injured reserve, leaving quarterback Drake Maye without his primary pass-catcher for upcoming regular-season games.

How the Injury Occurred

The sprain took place early in the third quarter on Wednesday during a third-down pass attempt intended for Brown. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett was in tight coverage when his right knee landed directly on Brown’s right ankle following an incomplete pass.

Brown remained on the ground holding the back of his right leg before walking slowly to the sideline medical tent. He was subsequently escorted to the locker room by team training staff. Earlier in the contest, Brown had drawn a defensive pass-interference penalty on a deep ball from Maye, setting up a two-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon.

Upcoming Schedule and Team Response

Speaking before the MRI results were finalized, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that Brown’s right ankle would require close monitoring. Vrabel expressed confidence in the receiver’s recovery efforts, stating, “I know he’ll do everything that he can to get back as quickly as possible.”

Should the four-week timeline hold, Brown will miss New England’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 20, along with consecutive road fixtures against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 27 and the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 4. His status for subsequent home games against the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 11 and the New York Jets on Oct. 18 remains uncertain.

Roster Adjustments

New England acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles on June 1 in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Following his injury on Wednesday, veteran receiver Mack Hollins filled the primary receiver role for the remainder of the game.

The Patriots will also look for expanded contributions from receiver Romeo Doubs, who signed a four-year, $68 million contract in the offseason but was held without a catch in his team debut. Other wide receivers remaining on the active roster include four-year veteran slot receiver Pop Douglas alongside second-year players Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III. The team had cleared roster depth prior to the season by trading former starter Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans.

Background

A.J. Brown was acquired by New England to serve as a primary receiver for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. The trade sent two future draft selections to Philadelphia to bolster a revamped receiving corps under head coach Mike Vrabel.