FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The preliminary diagnosis for New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown is a high-ankle sprain, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning.
X-rays on the ankle came back negative Wednesday night. Brown was scheduled for an MRI on Thursday, and Garafolo reported the timeline for his return is still to be determined.
A.J. Brown Injured On Third-Down Throw From Drake Maye
Early in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, Brown went down on a third-down incompletion. The Boston Globe’s Nicole Yang reported that replay showed Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett landing with his knee on Brown’s right ankle as Brown reached for a low throw from Drake Maye.
Brown stayed on the ground holding the ankle before walking off under his own power. He went into the blue medical tent, came out without his helmet or his right cleat, and walked to the locker room with trainers. New England listed him as questionable to return and downgraded him to out at the start of the fourth quarter.
Before the injury, Brown caught 3 passes for 26 yards on 4 targets in his first game with the Patriots. Two of those catches went for first downs. In the first half, he drew a pass interference penalty on an underthrown flea-flicker. That penalty set up the Patriots’ only touchdown, a 2-yard pass from Maye in the second quarter.
On the flea-flicker, Brown was wide open. Maye did not want to overthrow that one.
“I threw one low to him,” Maye said. “I should’ve hit him in the chest. I got to make a better play and make a better throw for him.”
Seattle scored all 13 of its points after Brown left the game. Maye threw all 3 of his interceptions in that stretch.
“I don’t have any update yet,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. “Wasn’t able to return, obviously.”
Brown did not speak to reporters after the game. Later Wednesday night, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reported that Brown walked out of the Patriots’ locker room wearing a boot on his right foot.
“I haven’t got a chance to see him,” Maye explained. “I know he’s dealing with what he’s dealing with. And I think for A.J., he’s going to fight hard to get back, whatever it is. I know he’s going to want to get back out there quick. And I think he’s a competitor, and he’s going to help this football team a lot this year. So I’m looking forward to getting to see him and checking in on how he’s doing.”
New England Patriots Acquired A.J. Brown From Philadelphia Eagles In June
New England acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles on June 1 for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Wednesday was his first game with the team. He did not play in the preseason.
His contract runs through 2029. At the time of the trade, his cap number for this season was $23.4 million, according to the Globe.
Before Philadelphia, Brown spent three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him in the second round, 51st overall, in 2019. Vrabel was his coach for all three.
In four seasons with the Eagles, he caught 339 passes for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns. Last season, he caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and 7 touchdowns in 15 games. That gave him a fourth straight 1,000-yard season and the sixth of his career. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time second-team All-Pro. He won Super Bowl LIX with Philadelphia.
After Brown left, Mack Hollins finished as New England’s leading receiver with 4 catches for 51 yards on 5 targets. One of those catches converted a fourth down on the Patriots’ final drive.
“That’s what he does,” Maye said. “That’s, that’s Mack Hollins’ career, stepping up and being in the right spot and knowing what to do and making big plays. That fourth down was a big play he made. And I know these guys are eager to get touches and eager to help this team win. And I got to do my part, and I’m the leader, and I need to bounce back and get ready to go for next week.”
Romeo Doubs, who signed a four-year, $68 million contract with New England in March, finished without a catch. Maye said the offense had been patient until he tried to force a ball down the sideline to Doubs.
The Patriots will not practice again until Monday. They host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is set for noon CT on CBS.
