Former Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown is expected to miss time after suffering a right ankle injury during his first regular-season game with the New England Patriots.
Brown is believed to have sustained a high-ankle sprain during Wednesday night’s 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. X-rays were negative for a fracture, and Brown was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury and establish a potential recovery timeline.
Brown was injured during New England’s opening possession of the third quarter. Seattle cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett broke up a third-down pass intended for Brown and landed on the outside of the receiver’s right ankle.
Brown left the field, received
treatment in the medical tent, and went to the locker room. He did not return.
#Patriots WR AJ Brown, who left last night’s opener because of an injury, is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2026
X-Rays were negative for a fracture. Brown has an MRI today to determine how much time he’ll miss. pic.twitter.com/CEeCEqWBFK
The former Eagles receiver finished his Patriots debut with three catches for 26 yards on four targets. He also drew a defensive pass interference penalty that helped set up New England’s only touchdown.
Philadelphia traded Brown to New England during the offseason, ending a productive four-year run in which he helped the Eagles reach two Super Bowls and win one. The Patriots acquired him to become the leading receiver for quarterback Drake Maye and add a proven, physical playmaker to their passing game.
The MRI should provide additional clarity, but high-ankle sprains commonly require more recovery time than standard ankle injuries. New England will need to determine whether Brown can avoid injured reserve or will require a multi-game absence.
For now, his anticipated Patriots debut has quickly become uncertain, and it's unclear when he will play again.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Former Eagles WR A.J. Brown avoids ankle fracture, but could miss games
