FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown did not participate in practice Thursday due to an aggravated knee injury, casting doubt over his availability for Sunday’s road matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Brown had already been listed on Wednesday’s injury report with knee and ankle ailments before sitting out completely the following day, SB Nation reported. NFL Network reported that Brown’s absence stemmed from a knee issue that flared up, leaving his playing status for the weekend up in the air.
Lingering injuries and physical toll
The 29-year-old receiver has navigated knee troubles throughout his career. Eliot Wolf, the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, previously acknowledged Brown’s degenerative knee condition to Yahoo Sports following the blockbuster trade that brought him to New England. The Patriots acquired the veteran in exchange for a 2028 first-round draft selection and a 2027 fifth-round choice, with Wolf stating that the team reviewed the joint’s wear and tear before medical personnel cleared the transaction.
Brown is also continuing his recovery from a high ankle sprain suffered during the season opener, an injury that forced him to spend four weeks on injured reserve before returning in Week 6. His statistical output has remained muted since rejoining the lineup, totaling six receptions on 16 targets for 75 yards across his last two appearances.
Data compiled by Pats Pulpit indicated Brown averaged just 1.5 yards of separation in Week 7, ranking fourth-worst among 61 qualified NFL receivers. Last season, his average separation ranked seventh-worst out of 120 receivers, according to the data.
Speaking to reporters before Wednesday’s workout, Brown acknowledged that his typical physical burst had not fully returned, though he dismissed any attempts to excuse his play.
“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. That’s the only thing. I don’t look at anything as positive or negative, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s information.”
Brown also took accountability for missed assignments during a loss to the Chicago Bears, which included a missed perimeter block that prevented running back Rhamondre Stevenson from scoring a touchdown.
Offensive depth tested
Quarterback Drake Maye stated that Brown is simply working back into rhythm following missed time and a compressed schedule that featured two games in five days, expressing confidence that the star receiver will produce big plays once he regains his stride.
If Brown is sidelined Sunday, New England’s active wide receiver corps would be down to just three players: DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III. The Patriots also have Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner, Chandler Brayboy and Ryan Miller available on their practice squad.
Brown was not the only offensive contributor missing from Thursday’s session. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson sat out due to illness, according to ESPN reporter Mike Reiss. Henderson had missed time earlier this month after suffering an ankle sprain on Oct. 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders before returning to log three carries against Chicago.
The Patriots enter Sunday sitting in second place in the AFC East with a 4-3 record, but they have struggled away from home, posting a 1-3 mark outside Foxborough. They face a Miami Dolphins team that earned its first victory of the season last week against the New York Jets. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. EDT at Hard Rock Stadium, with final injury designations set to be announced Friday.
