Patriots' A.J. Brown returns from IR after missing 4 games with ankle injury

FILE - New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown looks on during warmups before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown is hoping his second time taking the field for the New England Patriots will end better than his first.

Brown was in the starting lineup on Sunday for the first time since being placed on injured reserve last month with a high ankle sprain in New England's season opener. He was activated on Saturday to the 53-man roster, having missed a minimum four games after going on IR and was in the starting lineup for Sunday's matchup with the New York Jets.

Brown was the final member of the Patriots offense to be introduced before Sunday's game, and was welcomed with an extended ovation as he jumped and waved his arms in response. Quarterback Drake Maye looked Brown's way on third down during the Patriots' first series, but the pass fell incomplete.

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Patriots' A.J. Brown returns from IR after missing 4 games with ankle injury

Posted Sunday, October 18, 2026 10:28 am

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown is hoping his second time taking the field for the New England Patriots will end better than his first.

He was injured in the second half of New England’s 13-10 loss at Seattle on Sept. 9. He played just 31 snaps in that game before leaving early in the third quarter after he came up lame trying to catch a pass from Maye. Brown had three catches for 26 yards before the injury.

Brown as a limited participant in all three of the Patriots practices this week.

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