Much like the Seattle Seahawks suffering the loss of quarterback Sam Darnold, the New England Patriots did not have to wait very deep into the 2026 campaign to encounter a major injury setback of their own.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown, who represented New England’s most significant offseason addition following a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, clutched the lower portion of his right leg following an incomplete pass during the third quarter of Wednesday’s season-opening matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, remaining on the turf while the medical team rushed out to assess him. Shortly thereafter, he was officially sidelined for the remainder of the contest due to an ankle injury, paving the way for the Seahawks to mount a comeback and secure a narrow 13-10 victory.
Following the final whistle, New England head coach Mike Vrabel could not offer any immediate updates regarding the pass-catcher’s condition, although accounts surfaced of Brown exiting the locker room wearing a protective walking boot on his right foot.
During a low-pass play, Seattle cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett came down directly onto Brown’s leg. The receiver instantly reached for the area just above his ankle, and though he attempted to stand back up, he was forced to remain on the ground.
Not long after sustaining the injury, Brown headed back to the locker room for further evaluation.
Earlier in the game, Brown had made his presence felt during the opening two quarters. Showing great awareness on a flea-flicker play, he adjusted back toward a short pass, drawing a crucial defensive pass interference call right at the 2-yard line. This set up rookie tight end Eli Raridon’s touchdown reception on the very next snap, marking the lone score of the first half. Before his premature exit, Brown had compiled three receptions totaling 26 yards.
The New England front office had been determined to bolster their receiving corps, making Brown their marquee signing. Boasting an impressive track record of six 1,000-yard campaigns over his seven years in the league, seeing their premier offensive acquisition sidelined by an ankle issue in the first game of the year was certainly a nightmare scenario for the franchise.
