For at least the next four games, the New England Patriots will not have A.J. Brown available.
After suffering a high-ankle sprain in Wednesday’s season opener, the team has decided to place the veteran wide receiver on injured reserve. Adam Schefter of ESPN was first to report the news.
Brown, 29, joined the Patriots via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. He was immediately installed in the starting offense as a perimeter receiver, and throughout training camp showed some solid chemistry
with quarterback Drake Maye. On Wednesday night against the Seattle Seahawks, he caught three passes for 26 yards while playing 30 of the team’s first 34 offensive snaps.
On his 31st snap, however, he remained on the ground following an incomplete pass. The team’s medical staff and head coach Mike Vrabel quickly entered the field to check on him before he gingerly walked into the blue medical tent. Shortly thereafter, Brown exited for the locker room and was ruled out for the remainder of the eventual 13-10 loss.
Brown underwent additional testing on Thursday, confirming the initial diagnosis of a high-ankle sprain and putting his projected recovery timeline somewhere between four and six weeks.
“He’s going to fight hard to get back and whatever it is, I know he’s going to want to get back out there quick,” said quarterback Drake Maye after the game in Seattle. “I think he’s a competitor and he’s going to help this football team for a lot of this year.”
Now on injured reserve, Brown will at least miss New England’s games against the Steelers, Jaguars, Bills and Raiders. In a follow-up move, the team signed defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to fill his spot on the 53-man roster.
