Patriots' A.J. Brown sidelined for at least four weeks with ankle injury
New England wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain and will miss a minimum of four weeks, prompting the Patriots to lean on Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs and Demario Douglas.
Patriots wideout A.J. Brown was taken out of the Week 1 game after rolling his ankle while attempting a low pass in the third quarter. Team doctors performed an MRI after initial X-rays were negative, and the injury is being treated as a high-ankle sprain that will keep him out for at least four weeks.
"Everything was going to be alright," Brown told teammates, according to teammate Romeo Doubs.
With Brown unavailable, New England will look to Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs as its primary outside receivers, while slot-back Demario Douglas, who led the team with seven targets on Sunday, is expected to see increased work. Hollins posted 51 receiving yards in the opener and is projected to fill a WR4 role, whereas Doubs, who failed to catch any of his three targets against Seattle, will aim for WR3 production against Pittsburgh.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick did not comment on a specific return date, and the team’s medical staff indicated that a timeline beyond the four-week minimum cannot yet be set. The Patriots have previously noted that Brown has managed a degenerative knee condition but has remained durable, posting four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
The injury adds pressure on the Patriots’ passing game, which has also featured rookie Kayshon Boutte as a deep-ball option for quarterback Drake Maye. Analysts suggest that the team’s depth at receiver will be tested while Brown recovers.