News Article
Published
Oct 17, 2026 at 12:45 PM EDT
A.J. Brown's first season with the New England Patriots didn't get off to the start fans had hoped for. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener against the Seahawks and was placed on injured reserve two days later, forcing him to miss the next four games. He ended his Patriots debut with just three catches on four targets for 26 yards.
Brown returned to practice on Wednesday, opening his 21-day window to return from IR. But he was limited throughout the week and listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets. Head coach Mike Vrabel said the team would make a final decision on Saturday, taking Brown's conditioning and readiness into consideration.
Saturday morning, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Patriots are expected to activate Brown from IR, allowing him to suit up against the Jets on Sunday.
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New England heads into Week 6 at 3-2 after a tough start to the season. They opened at 1-2, including a 13-10 loss in Seattle followed by a commanding 20-3 win over the Steelers before falling back down with a 35-6 blowout loss against Jacksonville. They bounced back with crucial wins over the Bills and Raiders.
While they've looked far better the last couple of weeks, the offense has struggled to generate explosive plays without Brown, leaving Drake Maye and the supporting cast with more responsibility. Through the first five games, Maye has completed 65.6% of his passes for 1,228 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions.
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Brown gives Maye a proven, physical receiver who can win contested catches, stretch the field, and attract extra defenders. That should create more favorable matchups for Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, and the rest of the Patriots' receivers.
New England has managed without Brown, but getting him back is a major boost for Maye as the Patriots look to defend their AFC East title.