The New England Patriots will be without their biggest offseason addition for roughly a month. Wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain in the team’s season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks and is expected to miss at least four weeks, according to NFL Network.
Head coach Mike Vrabel had already left Brown’s availability for Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers uncertain when speaking to reporters, saying the team would wait for the medical report and decide on treatment. Brown exited Wednesday’s game early in the third quarter after an incomplete pass from Drake Maye; as he fell trying to make the catch, Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett’s knee made contact with Brown’s ankle and forcefully twisted it.
He was initially listed as questionable to return but was later ruled out at the start of the fourth quarter. Before leaving, Brown had three receptions for 26 yards and drew a defensive pass interference penalty that set the Patriots up at the 1-yard line for their only touchdown.
The injury is a significant setback for New England’s offense, which had counted on Brown to replace No. 1 receiver production after the team moved on from Stefon Diggs. The Patriots gave up a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in June to acquire Brown.
Brown, 29, had been relatively durable in Philadelphia, appearing in all 17 regular-season games in both 2022 and 2023, then playing 13 games during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl run and 15 contests in 2025.
Fan Take: This matters because Brown’s absence weakens New England’s immediate offensive firepower and could force other receivers to step up quickly, affecting both the Patriots’ early season outlook and fantasy football lineups. It’s also a reminder that even costly offseason moves carry injury risk, which can shift the balance among contenders in the AFC.
Source: www.foxsports.com
