A.J. Brown's highly anticipated Patriots debut ended early after the star wide receiver suffered a right ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks, and he was spotted in a walking boot.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe 2026 NFL opener was anything but smooth sailing. The New England Patriots had an injury scare of their own, shortly after Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury and walked off the field. A.J. Brown’s long-awaited debut with the Patriots was cut short with an ankle injury in the second half. He was later seen in a walking boot on his right foot, raising concerns about what this could mean for the rest of the season. Here's what we know about Brown's injury update.
Brown was the blockbuster offseason addition to the team, and the season opener marked his highly anticipated debut with the Patriots. However, in the third quarter, he sustained an injury while trying to make a catch from quarterback Drake Maye. His right ankle appeared to get caught underneath him as Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett made contact with him.
The 29-year-old wide receiver remained on the field, visibly in pain, as the medical team examined him before heading to the blue medical tent. He eventually walked to the locker room on his own, but he was wearing just one cleat. The Patriots later officially ruled Brown out for the remainder of the game with an ankle injury.
The latest development has left fans concerned, as Brown was reportedly spotted leaving the locker room in a walking boot on his right foot. The franchise's reporter Andrew Callahan reported on X that Brown had been seen wearing the boot after the game, which may indicate something more serious than a simple injury. He wrote:
"A.J. Brown just walked out of the Patriots locker room wearing a boot on his right foot. He left with an ankle injury and did not return."
The Patriots have not yet provided a definitive diagnosis or announced how much time Brown could miss to recover from his injury. Immediately after New England’s 13-10 loss to Seattle, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said he did not have a medical update. The only positive update was shared by Brown's teammate and wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who reportedly assured the team, "everything was going to be all right."
Brown’s injury happened with about 13:30 remaining in the third quarter. On third-and-4 from New England’s 48-yard line, Maye attempted to find Brown on a slant route. The pass was underthrown, and Brown became tangled with Pritchett while trying to make the play.
The 29-year-old Patriots WR went down awkwardly and immediately appeared to be dealing with discomfort in his right leg. While he didn't return from the medical tent for the rest of the opening game, his ability to play in the next game remains uncertain for now.
Before leaving, Brown had recorded three receptions for 26 yards on four targets. He also drew a crucial 34-yard pass interference penalty that helped set up New England’s only touchdown of the game. The Patriots will likely have to wait for additional medical evaluations before making a decision, but for now, there is no certainty about the extent of the injury.
The good news is that Brown has a proven record of bouncing back from game-related injuries in the past, and there is a considerable resting period before the Patriots' next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 20, 2026.
A.J. Brown previously played as a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, but was traded to the Patriots on June 1, 2026. He arrived after four productive seasons with Philadelphia, where he recorded more than 5,000 receiving yards and earned three second-team All-Pro selections. And it seems the Patriots were counting on that production immediately.
In Thursday's game, while the team had a stunning 7-0 lead against the Seahawks, they struggled to generate consistent passing-game production after Brown left. With its star receiver down, the team ultimately lost with a 13-10 score.
For now, whether Brown will be fit enough to return to the Patriots' next game remains a question mark.
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