FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday’s practice as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain, according to team injury reports.
Brown suffered the sprain during New England’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks and missed four games before returning to action two weeks ago. The 29-year-old pass catcher has appeared in two games since his return, playing both contests within a five-day stretch that included a 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears last Thursday.
Slow start and accountability
Since returning to the field, Brown has caught six passes on 16 targets for 75 yards, SB Nation reported. Across three total appearances with New England, he has totaled nine receptions for 101 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets, according to Bleacher Report.
Brown dealt with several dropped passes in his first game back against the New York Jets and missed key blocking assignments against Chicago, including a downfield block that could have led to a touchdown for running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Brown refused to point to his physical condition as a reason for those miscues.
“I won’t make any excuses. I missed a couple blocks. I’m going to leave it at that,” Brown said, as reported by SB Nation.
Brown acknowledged that he is still working through the lingering effects of the injury, saying he feels “OK” physically but is still regaining his trademark explosiveness on the field.
“I’m trying to put my best foot forward. I know obviously I’m working through something, but it’s no excuses. I made none in the first week I was out there,” Brown said. “The things I can control, I try to control.”
Teammates preach patience
The Patriots acquired Brown during the offseason from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft selection and a 2028 first-round draft pick. Despite the slow statistical start, rookie quarterback Drake Maye said the offense needs more repetitions to build chemistry after an abbreviated practice week leading into the Thursday night game.
“He’s just getting things going,” Maye said Wednesday, according to SB Nation. “I think he’s had a tough road battling IR and coming back to try and find a flow. We had a Thursday night game where there’s not a full week of practice. We really had our third or fourth practice out there [Wednesday] with him running and getting in the groove of the game plan.”
Maye added that the locker room has “full trust in him and he’s gonna make plays.”
Roster health ahead of Miami matchup
Brown was not the only offensive contributor on the injury report Wednesday. As reported by NBC Sports, right guard Ben Brown was limited by a knee issue after missing the previous game, while defensive tackle Daquan Jones was limited with a back problem and right tackle Morgan Moses participated in a limited capacity due to a foot injury.
The Patriots received positive news on defense as cornerbacks Carlton Davis, Channing Canada and Karon Prunty were full participants after sitting out Week 7. Offensive lineman Marcus Bryant, linebacker Christian Elliss, linebacker Dre’Mont Jones and Maye, who was listed with a right shoulder issue, all practiced fully.
New England enters the weekend facing depth concerns at wideout, with receivers Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins also sidelined, according to Patriots Wire. The team travels to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, where Brown will look to build offensive rhythm against a Miami defense that has struggled against the pass this season.
