Patriots WR AJ Brown Placed on IR as Josh McDaniels Left Surprised

The New England Patriots have officially placed superstar wide receiver A. J.

Brown on Injured Reserve following an ankle injury sustained in Week 1. This roster move means the newly acquired playmaker will miss at least the next four games of the 2026 season.

Interestingly, the decision appeared to catch offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels completely off guard. The Patriots are already facing a difficult start to the year after a disappointing 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

During that matchup, rookie quarterback Drake Maye struggled to find his rhythm despite Seattle losing quarterback Sam Darnold early in the game. Brown's sudden absence adds another layer of adversity for head coach Mike Vrabel, who dealt with a highly publicized offseason.

With their top offensive weapon now sidelined, New England must quickly find ways to revitalize their struggling passing attack.