Overview
- Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain in the season opener on Sept. 9 that was confirmed by MRI and led to his being placed on injured reserve.
- NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Oct. 3 that Brown is “pushing hard” to return as soon as he is eligible to come off IR in Week 6 on Oct. 18.
- An earlier timeline from Ian Rapoport estimated about a six-week absence, which would have kept Brown out past the Jets game and created uncertainty about an Oct. 18 activation.
- New England's offense has struggled through three games, averaging roughly 12 points per game, and receivers Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas have absorbed Brown’s targets.
- Medical recovery for high-ankle sprains can vary from about one to six weeks, so the Patriots will base any activation on Brown’s practice progress and medical clearance ahead of Oct. 18.