Patriots place A.J. Brown on injured reserve with high ankle sprain

The New England Patriots are placing wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve after an MRI confirmed a high ankle sprain, a move that will sideline one of the team’s biggest offseason additions for at least four games, according to ESPN.

ESPN reported Friday, citing sources relayed by Adam Schefter, that Brown’s MRI confirmed the injury after he was hurt in New England’s 13-10 season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday. X-rays taken after the game were negative for a fracture, according to ESPN, which also cited NFL Network reporting. Under NFL rules, a player placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games.

Brown was injured early in the third quarter and left the opener shortly afterward. ESPN reported the play came on a third-down incompletion, when Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett’s right knee appeared to land on Brown’s ankle. Before exiting, Brown had three catches for 26 yards, a team high in receiving yards in the loss.

The absence is an immediate blow to New England’s offense. Brown was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles on June 1 in a blockbuster trade that, ESPN previously reported, sent a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Philadelphia. He arrived as a focal-point target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye and as a centerpiece of the Patriots’ effort to improve their passing game.

With Brown out, the Patriots will have to redistribute targets almost immediately. Mack Hollins took over most of Brown’s role after he left the Seattle game, and other receivers mentioned as options to absorb snaps and opportunities include Romeo Doubs, Pop Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.

The timing is especially difficult for New England, which now heads into the early part of its schedule without one of its top playmakers. ESPN identified upcoming games against Pittsburgh on Sept. 20, at Jacksonville on Sept. 27 and at Buffalo on Oct. 4 as part of the near-term stretch affected by Brown’s absence.

As of a Sept. 11 research check, Brown’s June acquisition appeared on the Patriots’ transactions page, but the injured reserve move had not yet appeared there. The report of Brown going on injured reserve was based on sourced reporting from ESPN and had not yet been reflected in an official team transaction listing.