From Newsweek · Michael DeRosa · · 1m 20s
A.J. Brown lands on IR after Week 1
New England's best receiver is out at least four games with a high ankle sprain, right as the schedule turns brutal.
In brief
New England's best receiver is out at least four games with a high ankle sprain, right as the schedule turns brutal. The Patriots lose their top receiver for a month, starting with Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Buffalo and Las Vegas. Originally reported by Newsweek.
The update nobody wanted
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Patriots are placing wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve. There is no soft version of this news.
A high ankle sprain
Brown hurt the ankle in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. High ankle sprains are slow to heal, and this one costs him at least four weeks.
He was the plan
Brown was set to anchor the Patriots offense this season. Now the team's best receiver is unavailable for a meaningful stretch of it.
“this is terrible news for the Patriots”
Bad start, worse timing
New England already opened the season on the wrong foot. The bounce-back has to happen without the player it was built around.
Four games, no cushion
The stretch Brown misses runs through the Steelers, Jaguars, Bills and Raiders. A division game against Buffalo sits right in the middle.
A debut cut short
Brown caught three passes for 26 yards in his Patriots debut. Last season in Philadelphia he put up 78 catches, 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns.
In short
The Patriots lose their top receiver for a month, starting with Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Buffalo and Las Vegas.
