Wednesday night’s season opener couldn’t have gone much worse for New England Patriots fans. The Patriots fumbled a 10-0 lead, went scoreless in the second half, QB Drake Maye threw 3 INTs — including one to seal the 13-10 loss, and new WR acquisition A.J. Brown left the game with a lower right leg injury.
Brown left in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game vs. the Seahawks with an apparent ankle injury, as he grabbed his right ankle after an incomplete pass.
The Patriots’ new WR1 was expected to be the go-to target for Maye this season, and now could be sidelined for some time, leaving behind an underwhelming wide receiver room.
Below, we’ll give you the latest on A.J. Brown injury, including news and updates from Seattle, including how long he could be out based on early indications.
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A.J. Brown Injury Update: How Long Could AJB Be Out for Patriots?
This was the first game that Brown played in after the Patriots traded their 2028 first-round pick for the former Eagles WR this offseason.
While there isn’t yet an official diagnosis on Brown as of writing, the early indications are an ankle sprain, or potentially something more severe — both based on speculation from video evidence of the play he was injured on.
To make matters worse, Brown left the locker room after Wednesday’s game with a boot on his right foot. However, he was able to initially leave the field under his own power, not requiring a cart — likely ruling out most season-ending outcomes.
At the very least, it’s safe to assume that Brown is set to miss 1-2 weeks, even with a minor ankle sprain. However, if it is a high ankle sprain, his timeline will likely keep him out for 4-5 weeks.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel did not provide an update on Brown’s ankle after the game. So far, the injury timeline isn't set in stone, but it doesn’t look promising for Brown to be ready for Week 2.
That said, the Patriots do have a long break, as they won’t play again for 10 more days — vs. the Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 20.
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Patriots WR Depth Chart: Mack Hollins or Romeo Doubs WR1?
Should A.J. Brown miss any time with the lower-leg injury, the Patriots may have a serious issue on their hands in the WR room.
The Patriots signed WR Romeo Doubs to a 4-year, $68 million deal in the offseason, but he was incredibly underwhelming in his debut — 3 targets with 0 catches, including this brutal drop, which was followed by a Maye interception on the next play.
So where does that leave the Patriots depth chart if Brown is sidelined? Not in a good place, to be blunt. Here's what we're looking at:
Outside WRs: Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins
Slot WR: Demario Douglas
The trio combined for 71 yards on Wednesday vs. the Seahawks, with Douglas turning his 7 targets into just 20 yards. Hollins will turn 33 before the Patriots play their Week 2 game.
Behind those three options, the Patriots have 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams — who didn’t play a snap, even after Brown left the game — and second-season UDFA Efton Chism III.
Knowing this, it's shocking that the Patriots traded WR Kayshon Boutte — who had 500+ yards in back-to-back seasons — to the Texans for a 2028 seventh-round pick in late August.
To make matters worse, RB TreVeyon Henderson hasn’t practiced since early August and did not practice in Week 1, making the Patriots offense even more one-dimensional.
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The Patriots WR room could be in rough shape after newly-acquired WR A.J. Brown went down with a lower leg injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Seahawks. Brown left the Patriots’ locker room with a boot on his right foot after the game.
If he’s unable to play in Week 2, Maye’s top WR targets will be beyond underwhelming, led by Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, and undersized slot WR Demario Douglas.
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