A.J. Brown leaves Patriots debut with high-ankle sprain
X-rays came back negative for a fracture. An MRI will determine how long New England is without its new receiver.
Brown hurt in debut; X-rays negative, MRI to set timeline
The bottom line: Brown suffered the injury in the third quarter Wednesday and did not return. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that he is believed to have a high-ankle sprain, after X-rays were negative for a fracture. There is no official timeline for his return.
The details:
- Brown caught three passes for 26 yards on four targets before leaving.
- Reporter Andrew Callahan saw Brown leave the locker room wearing a boot on his right foot.
- Coach Mike Vrabel had no update on Brown’s status after the game.
- Brown will have an MRI on Sept. 10 to determine how much time he will miss, NESN reported. New England’s next game is Sept. 20 against Pittsburgh.
How it happened: Early in the third quarter, quarterback Drake Maye threw to Brown over the middle. Seattle cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett broke up the pass and landed on Brown’s right ankle. Brown was in immediate pain, walked off without help, then limped to the locker room for X-rays and was ruled out.
On the timeline: bet365 wrote that high-ankle sprains in the NFL typically require four to six weeks of recovery depending on severity, that a relatively minor sprain could cost Brown as few as three games, and projected he will most likely miss the Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Buffalo games. The MRI results are expected to give a clearer picture. NESN wrote that receivers Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins would likely take on more work if Brown misses significant time, along with Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson. See the updated Patriots depth chart for how the receiver room is ordered now.
One early concern, since ruled out: Fantasy Points injury analyst Jeff Mueller posted after the game that he saw potential for a right high-ankle sprain plus a right PCL sprain, and said he hoped Brown’s fibula had not fractured. “Probably not though.” The X-rays that followed were negative for a fracture.
The backdrop: New England acquired Brown from Philadelphia on June 1, sending a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Eagles. The 29-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler who put up 5,034 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in four seasons with the Eagles. He had appeared in 62 of a possible 68 regular-season games over the past four years, missing four in 2024 with hamstring trouble, Bleacher Report noted.
Also: Darnold leaves opener with hip injury
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold left Wednesday’s game with a hip injury and was ruled out. Bleacher Report reported he was hurt on Seattle’s opening drive; bet365 reported he left in the first half and wrote that whether he will miss significant time is unclear.
Our take
New England gave up a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth for a receiver who lasted into the third quarter of his first game. If the four-to-six weeks bet365 describes holds up, Brown misses Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Buffalo, and the Patriots reach November with 26 yards to show for the trade.
NESN’s fallback plan is Doubs, Hollins, Henry and Stevenson. All four were already on the roster in August, back when the front office looked at that exact group and decided it needed a three-time Pro Bowler added to it.