The New England Patriots' prized offseason acquisition will be sidelined for the next month.
New England is placing receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve after he suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's season-opening loss to Seattle, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The roster move will prevent Brown from playing for at least four games before he is eligible to return from IR.
The Patriots' next four games are home vs. Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville and Buffalo before a Week 5 home game vs. Las Vegas.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that an MRI confirmed that Brown suffered a high ankle sprain early in the second half of Wednesday's game. High ankle sprains typically have a recovery time of about four to six weeks.
Brown suffered the injury when his foot was trapped awkwardly between the turf and a Seahawks defender while attempting to make a third-down catch.
A three-time Pro Bowler with six 1,000-yard seasons in seven years, Brown was traded from Philadelphia to New England in a June blockbuster deal that netted New England's 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection. The move reunited Brown with his first NFL head coach, Mike Vrabel, who directed Brown in his first few years in Tennessee.
Brown's arrival provided the Patriots with an unquestioned No. 1 receiver with star power and big-play potential, an element New England lacked during its run to Super Bowl LX in 2025. With Brown on the roster, the NFL's third-ranked offense was expected to be even more productive in 2026.
Instead, quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots will have to manage without Brown for at least next month.
