Patriots to Activate A.J. Brown for Sunday vs. Jets — SkimNews
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- A.J. Brown is likely to be activated Saturday after missing four games with a right high ankle sprain, and the Patriots have an open spot on their 53-man roster to accommodate the move.
- Brown sustained the injury early in the third quarter of the season opener Sept. 9, returned to practice Wednesday, and was listed as limited throughout the week on the team's official injury report.
- Brown said coach Mike Vrabel would decide when he returns, noting the key consideration is for the "long haul, not just for temporarily," and he will likely be eased back into the mix before resuming his usual heavy workload.
- Drake Maye compared the return to the NBA, saying defenses that double the best player end up leaving others open — a situation the Patriots' emerging receiver group, including Romeo Doubs, Pop Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams, now presents.
- The Patriots (3-2) host the Jets (2-3) on Sunday before visiting the Chicago Bears on Thursday, creating a quick turnaround that shapes how aggressively New England deploys Brown in his first game back.
Why it matters: Brown's activation restores a top-tier target for Drake Maye against a 2-3 Jets defense, but Brown himself indicated he will be eased back rather than immediately restored to a full workload — meaning New England's complementary receivers carry more of the load on Sunday before a short-week Thursday trip to Chicago.
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