A.J. Brown to Miss Four Weeks With Ankle Sprain

A.J. Brown will miss at least four weeks after a high ankle sprain suffered in the Patriots' season-opening defeat to the Seahawks, NFL Network reported on Thursday.

The 29-year-old went down early in the third quarter in Seattle, with New England FC trailing 10-13. Reaching for an incomplete pass from Drake Maye, he was falling to the turf when Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett's knee drove into his right ankle. Brown was initially listed as questionable to return before the Patriots ruled him out at the start of the fourth quarter. An X-ray ruled out a fracture; an MRI confirmed the serious sprain.

It was Brown's first appearance for New England FC since the trade that brought him from Philadelphia in June, a deal that cost the Patriots a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick. Before the injury he had three catches for 26 yards and drew a 34-yard defensive pass interference penalty that set up New England's only touchdown of the night, at the 1-yard line.

Head coach Mike Vrabel said his side's status for next week's visit from the Steelers was still unclear. "I don't know if he'll be available going Forward here for the next week, but we'll see," Vrabel said. "Once we get the report, we'll figure out what the treatment plan is."

The absence lands at an awkward moment for New England FC's offence. The club let Stefon Diggs leave after he finished 2025 as its leading receiver, and Brown had been brought in to fill that role. In four seasons with the Eagles he was largely durable, playing all 17 regular-season games in both 2022 and 2023, though he missed at least two matches in each of the last two campaigns.