New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a suspected high-ankle sprain during a 13-10 season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks on September 10, 2026. Brown exited in the third quarter after landing awkwardly, leaving his immediate status uncertain as the team prepares to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown endured a difficult debut with his new franchise, exiting the team’s season-opening game against the Seattle Seahawks with an apparent right leg injury. According to reporting from NFL network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, medical personnel believe the star wide receiver suffered a high-ankle sprain.
Third-Quarter Play and Injury Exit at Lumen Field
The incident occurred early in the third quarter during the NFL season opener and Super Bowl rematch in Seattle. With the Patriots facing a 3rd-and-4 on their own 48-yard line 90 seconds into the second half, quarterback Drake Maye under-threw a pass toward Brown near the ground. Brown got tangled up with Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett while battling for the incomplete ball.
Brown remained down on the turf as medical staff rushed to evaluate him. He was initially taken to the blue injury tent before walking under his own power to the visiting locker room. Before his departure, Brown caught three of his four targets for 26 yards. Broadcasters reported that he underwent X-rays at the stadium, and according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, he was later seen leaving the locker room at Lumen Field wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
Patriots Offense Adjusts Following Brown Departure
With Brown sidelined for the remainder of the contest, the Patriots’ passing game shifted toward other targets. Mack Hollins, a 2017 5th-round pick and former Eagle, stepped up to lead New England wide receivers with four catches for 51 yards. The offense struggled to sustain momentum against Seattle, ultimately falling 13-10 in a game where Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold also exited early due to a hip injury suffered on the fifth play of the game during the opening drive.
The Seahawks clinched the win when Josh Jobe, an undrafted free agent with the Eagles in 2022, intercepted Maye at the Seahawks’ 3-yard-line with 26 seconds left. The interception, the third of the game for Maye, was intended for Hollins. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed reporters after the final whistle but told them he did not have an update on Brown’s status. The team scheduled an MRI to determine a precise timeline for his recovery and potential return to the field.
High Expectations and Recent Team History
The injury deals an early blow to an offense that anticipated a major boost from Brown this season. New England acquired Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on June 1, sending a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for the standout receiver. Brown signed a lucrative extension in April 2024 that makes him the 10th-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL with an average annual salary of $32 million.
During his four-year tenure in Philadelphia, Brown earned second-team All-Pro honors three times and racked up 5,034 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns on 339 receptions. Among active receivers, Brown ranks 16th with 8,029 yards and 13th with 56 touchdowns, making him the 17th receiver in NFL history to surpass 8,000 yards in his first seven seasons.
While he remained largely durable—appearing in 62 of a possible 68 regular-season games over the past four years—Brown has dealt with various injuries. He missed five games with injuries in four years with the Eagles, including a sprained knee in a 2023 wild-card loss to Tampa and four contests during the 2024 season while dealing with hamstring issues. He also missed six games in three years with the Titans. Prior to his trade, Brown grew increasingly unhappy as an Eagle as his relationship with Jalen Hurts fractured, culminating in a wild-card loss to the 49ers at the Linc where he had three costly dropped passes.
The Patriots now face a short turnaround as they monitor their star wide receiver’s recovery ahead of a scheduled Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 20, 2026.