FOXBOROUGH
The most encouraging injury update of the New England Patriots' season arrived on Monday in the shortest possible form. Asked whether wide receiver A.J. Brown could return in Week 6 against the New York Jets, head coach Mike Vrabel kept it brief and optimistic, according to USA TODAY's For The Win: “There's a chance.”
According to For The Win, Brown has not played since he suffered a high ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and he has missed the last four games after being placed on injured reserve. Patriots Wire reported the same timeline: Brown was hurt in the opener against Seattle, is eligible to come off injured reserve this week, and could be available for Sunday's Week 6 game against the Jets — though Patriots Wire noted that eligibility is not a guarantee he will be ready.
What Happened in Week 1
According to 98.5 The Sports Hub, Brown's Patriots debut was cut short in Seattle, where he suffered the high ankle sprain in the third quarter. Heavy reported, via MassLive's Mark Daniels, that Vrabel said on Monday there is a chance Brown returns to practice this week, which would be a significant step in his recovery from an injury that has kept him sidelined since the opener.
According to Patriots Wire, the injury list around Brown has only grown in his absence. Fellow receiver Mack Hollins is also recovering from injury, running back TreVeyon Henderson and left tackle Will Campbell went down during Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and the team has also been playing without its starting fullback, Reggie Gilliam. Brown's possible return would land in a receiver room that needs the help.
The Player New England Traded For
According to For The Win, Brown arrived in New England as the Patriots' big offseason receiver acquisition and was viewed as a top-10 fantasy receiver entering the season after turning in his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard campaign in 2025 with the Philadelphia Eagles. For The Win also noted that Brown, a former second-round pick, is a three-time Second-Team All-Pro selection, and that he has finished with 1,000 receiving yards in each of his seven professional seasons except 2021, when he appeared in just 13 games.
That track record is the reason this return matters beyond one week. A receiver who has produced at that level in season after season changes how defenses line up: safeties shade his way, corners need help, and the rest of the route tree gets cleaner looks. According to 98.5 The Sports Hub, Vrabel described what the team wants from its receivers as production, winning one-on-one matchups, making contested catches, creating separation and giving the quarterback confidence and places to go with the football — a description that fits Brown's game precisely.
What It Means for Drake Maye
According to For The Win, quarterback Drake Maye has turned in back-to-back strong performances after starting the season with just one touchdown against six interceptions, and Brown's return against New York could help New England extend its winning streak. The turnaround was on full display on Sunday: as Previously reported in its breakdown of the Patriots' 45-17 rout of the Raiders, Maye carved up Las Vegas even with New England missing its top deep threats, Brown and Hollins among them.
That context cuts both ways, and it is worth stating plainly. The Patriots' passing game has found its footing without Brown, which means his return is an upgrade rather than a rescue. But it also means the coaching staff does not need to rush him. According to 98.5 The Sports Hub, there is a feeling among national reporters that Brown is close, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting that Brown is moving well, has made progress, and could be back as soon as this week — while adding that it will not be long before he returns either way. The Sports Hub noted that Wednesday's practice should give a clearer read on Brown's availability for Week 6.
The Week Ahead
The opponent makes the timing tempting. The Jets come to Foxborough on Sunday in a divisional game New England will expect to win, and a healthy Brown would give Maye a true No. 1 target for the stretch of the season that decides playoff seeding. The alternative — one more week of rest for a high ankle sprain, an injury that famously lingers when a player returns too soon — is the cautious path, and nothing Vrabel said on Monday committed the team to either one.
For now, the facts are narrow and genuinely encouraging: according to For The Win and Patriots Wire, Brown is eligible to return, his coach would not rule out Week 6, and, according to 98.5 The Sports Hub, national reporting has him moving well and nearing a return. Patriots fans have watched this offense grow up fast over the last two weeks. The next step — adding a three-time All-Pro back into it — may be days away. Readers following the AFC picture can also catch up on the postgame fight that followed Buffalo's overtime win over the Rams and browse the rest of the day's coverage in the Previously sports section.
