A.J. Brown Placed on Injured Reserve by Patriots With Ankle Sprain

The New England Patriots are navigating the immediate aftermath of a severe personnel loss just one week into the campaign. Wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain during the team’s season-opening loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, prompting the organization to place him on injured reserve.

The setback arrives after a high-profile offseason acquisition that saw New England surrender a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for his services from the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown was expected to anchor the offense as quarterback Drake Maye’s No. 1 target throughout this season, following a campaign where he totaled more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 catches.

The Injury at Lumen Field and Immediate Impact on Drake Maye

The injury occurred early in the third quarter at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on September 9, 2026. Brown fell to the turf as he tried to catch an incomplete pass from quarterback Drake Maye, and his ankle made contact with Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett’s knee. Brown did not speak after the game.

Before exiting the contest, Brown had caught three passes for 26 yards on four targets. His departure triggered a noticeable collapse in New England’s passing game down the stretch, culminating in Maye throwing three fourth-quarter interceptions as the Patriots blew their lead and eventually lost the 13-10 Super Bowl rematch.

“I threw one low to him, should have hit him in the chest. I’ve got to make a better play and make a better throw for him.”

Drake Maye, Patriots Quarterback

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel addressed reporters regarding the evaluation process for the newly acquired receiver, stating that the team will figure out what the treatment plan is once they get the reports.

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“I know he will do everything that he can to get back as quickly as possible, and once we get the reports, then we’ll figure out what the treatment plan is.”

Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach

Vrabel also noted that the injury is one we will have to monitor.

Four-Game Minimum Absence and Missed Matchups

Placement on the injured reserve list mandates a minimum four-game absence. According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, Brown will sit out upcoming games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders, at minimum. The Patriots will host the Steelers in Week 2, head on the road for games against the Jaguars and Bills, and return home in Week 5 for a game against the Raiders.

The earliest date Brown is eligible to return to the fold is in Week 6 on October 18 against the New York Jets. To fill the roster spot created by the move, the Patriots signed defensive tackle DaQuan Jones from the Buffalo Bills.

Shuffling the Receiver Depth Chart Without Brown

New England could be in a bit of trouble without Brown as the focal point of the passing game. The team traded Kayshon Boutte toward the end of training camp to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a seventh-round pick, a decision that leaves the remaining corps thin. If Boutte was still on the roster, he would likely step into a starting role in Brown’s absence. Instead, the team is left with Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Demario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III as their wideouts while Brown is on the shelf, alongside practice squad members Cameron Dorner and Kyle Dixon.

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Romeo Doubs figures to absorb a major share of the responsibility, though he had a miserable debut game going catchless on three targets. His outing featured a crucial drop and an interception in a contested catch situation where he did not make a good play on the ball, leading to an offseason signing carrying immense pressure to be considerably better moving forward.

Meanwhile, Mack Hollins stepped in against Seattle to catch four passes for 51 yards, though he has never averaged more than 40.6 receiving yards per game in a given season. While Hollins is a coach’s favorite and a terrific blocker, he is more of a complementary player rather than a top option to count on for Maye over the next four weeks.

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Demario Douglas remains an option primarily out of the slot, securing five catches for 20 yards on seven targets in the opener as a player who can occasionally threaten defenses down the field and help move the chains. Younger options like Kyle Williams—who played only 12 snaps in the opener with 10 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie—and Efton Chism III will likely see their opportunities increase. Chism was active for only eight games last season, catching three passes for 75 yards while playing mostly on special teams, and was inactive for the opener.

Additionally, the Patriots might have to lean more on multi-tight-end sets with Hunter Henry and rookie Eli Raridon if their receivers can’t make up for Brown’s absence. Henry caught three passes for 26 yards on three targets in the opener, while Raridon contributed one reception for 2 yards and a touchdown. Rhamondre Stevenson also factored heavily out of the backfield with 18 carries for 51 rushing yards and five receptions for 44 receiving yards on six targets, while fellow running back TreVeyon Henderson dealt with an ankle injury.