The Green Bay Packers will avoid facing top wide receivers Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown during Sunday's showdown with the New England Patriots in Week 9.
Doubs, who spent his first four NFL seasons in Green Bay before signing a four-year contract with the Patriots, is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and will miss his third consecutive game. Brown, who was acquired via trade this offseason, will miss his second straight game due to knee and ankle injuries and his sixth game overall this season.
Brown didn't practice all week. On Friday, coach Mike Vrabel said he would be ruled out for Sunday. While a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, Brown had a touchdown catch in two of his four career games against the Packers.
Doubs
and Brown were expected to be Drake Maye's top targets in 2026. Instead, it's been Demario Douglas -- with 26 catches for 332 yards and four scores -- leading the way for the Patriots passing game.
"He's a baller. He's a really good player," coach Matt LaFleur said of Douglas Friday.
Tight end Hunter Henry, who left Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins with a foot injury, leads the team with 29 catches. He's questionable to play after missing practices on Wednesday and Thursday. Rookie Eli Raridon is the backup.
Without Doubs and Brown last week, Maye completed three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown to Douglas and found second-year receiver Kyle Williams for a 43-yard touchdown. His weapons depleted, Maye still finished 16 of 20 passing for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and he finished with a passer rating of 141.5. The Patriots erased a 13-3 deficit at halftime and won, 24-19.
On Green Bay's side, it's unclear if the Packers defense will have starting cornerback Keisean Nixon on Sunday. He returned to practice on Friday while battling through a groin injury that kept him out on Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers will avoid facing Patriots WRs A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs
