A.J. Brown Exits Patriots’ Season Opener With Ankle Injury

New England’s marquee offseason addition lasted less than three quarters into the 2026 season. Receiver A.J. Brown, acquired in a high-profile trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, departed Wednesday night’s opener against the Seattle Seahawks after injuring his right ankle, according to NBC’s broadcast report.

The injury occurred on an incompletion in the third quarter. On a low throw, Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett landed on Brown’s lower leg, and the receiver immediately grabbed the area above his ankle. He attempted to rise but remained on the turf as trainers attended to him. NBC reported that the Patriots removed his cleat on the sideline before he was listed as questionable to return. He later headed to the locker room, and reporters observed him limping as he exited the medical tent.

Before exiting, Brown had made his presence felt in a low-scoring contest. His recovery of an underthrown pass on a flea flicker drew a defensive pass interference penalty at the 2-yard line, setting up the game’s only first-half score — a touchdown catch by rookie tight end Eli Raridon. Brown finished with three receptions for 26 yards.

The loss of Brown, even temporarily, would be a significant blow to a New England offense that prioritized upgrading its receiving corps this offseason. Brown has posted six 1,000-yard seasons across seven NFL years, and the Patriots invested heavily to bring him in as the centerpiece of their offseason acquisition strategy.

The opener’s early injury storylines extended beyond New England. Seattle also saw quarterback Sam Darnold go down, marking a rough start to the season for both clubs.

Broadcast rights holder Comcast, whose NBC division carried the game nationally, saw its shares close at $24.59 on the day, down 6.61% from the prior close of $26.33, giving the media and telecom company a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion.

What to watch

• Updates from the Patriots on the severity of Brown’s ankle injury and any timeline for his return.
• Whether Brown appears on the team’s weekly injury report ahead of its next game.
• The status of Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold following his own injury in the opener.

Source: original release