Brown is undergoing evaluation for a right ankle injury sustained during a season-opening loss to Seattle, leaving his availability for a Week 2 matchup against Pittsburgh uncertain.
Brown is undergoing further testing on his right ankle following an injury sustained in the second half of a 13-10 season-opening loss at Seattle. The veteran wideout left the game early in the third quarter after an incomplete pass from Drake Maye. He was falling to the turf as he tried to make the catch, and Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett’s knee made contact with Brown’s ankle, pushing it against the ground. Brown was initially announced as questionable to return before the Patriots ruled him out at the start of the fourth quarter, finishing his Patriots debut with three catches for 26 yards. Vrabel addressed the receiver’s status during his Thursday press conference in FOXBOROUGH, Mass.
“I don’t know if he’ll be available going forward here for the next week, but we’ll see. Once we get the report, we’ll figure out what the treatment plan is.”
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots Head Coach
Brown suffered a high ankle sprain, head coach Mike Vrabel declined to confirm that in his Thursday press conference. Vrabel noted that Brown’s upcoming availability is in question after he suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday night’s loss to the Seahawks. But beyond that, the club is still evaluating the receiver. We’re running more tests, but we’ll update you here next week,
Vrabel said. “Wasn’t able to finish the game, and we’ll continue to evaluate, continue to run tests. But I don’t know if he’ll be available going forward here for the next week, but we’ll see. I know he’ll do everything that he can to get back as quickly as possible. And once we get the report, then we’ll figure out what the treatment plan is.” Brown suffered his ankle injury early in the third quarter on Wednesday night. He was able to walk off the field and into the locker room for further evaluation.
Upcoming Schedule and Offense Stakes
New England’s next game is its home opener on Sept. 20 against Pittsburgh. New England will face Pittsburgh at home in Week 2. Brown joins the Patriots as the clear No. 1 option for rising quarterback star Drake Maye, who led New England to a Super Bowl appearance last year. Brown gives Maye the physical, proven target the quarterback did not consistently have during the Patriots’ Super Bowl run last season. Throughout training camp, Brown and Maye developed a strong rapport, connecting on several deep passes that established the receiver as a physical, reliable weapon for the young quarterback.
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Reunited Leadership in Foxborough
Before the ankle injury, Brown’s transition to New England drew consistent praise from Mike Vrabel, who was AJ Brown’s head coach through three seasons with the Tennessee Titans in 2019-21. Now, the two are reunited before the 2026 season with the New England Patriots. Brown was traded to the Patriots earlier this offseason following his four-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before the Patriots’ joint practice with the Eagles on Wednesday, Vrabel was asked about Brown’s leadership as a veteran wide receiver for his New England franchise.
“It’s funny, just not being around him day to day for whatever years it was from Tennessee, to Philly, now here, just the maturity. An overall maturity. The way that he communicates with coaches, the way he communicates with players… He’s accountable. He gets mistakes corrected. I mean, you can coach him hard. Todd [Downing] can coach him hard, Josh [McDaniels] can coach him hard. He wants to do well for the entire offense and wants to be a contributor.”
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots Head Coach
Brown, 29, was durable during his four seasons in Philadelphia, playing in all 17 regular-season games in 2022 and 2023, dropping to 13 during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl title season, and then 15 in 2025. ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio noted Wednesday Brown has participated in all 18 practices the Patriots have held so far during training camp.
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