Overview
- Brown suffered a right high-ankle sprain on Sept. 9 and the Patriots placed him on injured reserve, which guarantees at least a four-game absence.
- NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport says the team now expects Brown to miss roughly six weeks, which would likely push a realistic return past Week 6 and closer to Week 7.
- Rapoport added that no surgery is planned, meaning Brown will follow a rehab timetable rather than an operative recovery.
- A sideline video of Brown loudly calling out the offensive line circulated on X and drew heavy social-media criticism, creating a public-relations issue on top of the injury.
- Brown’s absence forces greater responsibility on Drake Maye and receivers such as Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins while New England uses the roster spot opened by the IR move to add depth.