It couldn't be a worse start to his New England tenure than A.J. Brown going down with a high ankle sprain in Week 1, forcing the Patriots to figure out the best backup plan for their receiving corps now that their No. 1 playmaker is out for at least four games.
The Pro Bowler was brought in to be the best receiver Drake Maye has had to work with since he was drafted two years ago, and the excitement about what they could accomplish together was incredibly high coming out of training camp.
Their connection seemed immediate, and Brown was set to lead a jam-packed receiver room that the Patriots haven't had the luxury of in a long time. His role became even more important once they decided to trade Kayshon Boutte to the Texans.
Now that he's out for at least the next four games, other players are going to have to step up in his place, and there are two frontrunners to do that: Mack Hollins and/or Kyle Williams.
The veteran got increased reps against the Seahawks last Wednesday, and while that is expected to continue, there's no reason to believe Williams won't get more going forward. He had another impressive preseason, showing off his speed and playmaking ability, and that's exactly what Maye will need with Brown sidelined.
We could see a massive change within the Patriots' receiving corps now that A.J. Brown is injured
Although he was only on the field for just 12 offensive snaps in Week 1, Williams is expected to be thrust into the spotlight over the next four weeks, at minimum, now that Maye is going to be down his most experienced and trusted playmaker.
Williams is far from what Brown is (obviously), so he won't simply step into his shoes and fill the void as if he's still on the field. But he has many traits that could make Brown's absence feel less scary than most are predicting.
His speed is the most intriguing of all, as he has made some big plays that no other receiver on the Patriots roster could have done. The one that stands out the most from his rookie season was a 72-yard run for his first touchdown against the Bucs, getting away from every defender to get into the end zone.
That will be invaluable throughout his career, but over the next four games, the offense will need that against the Steelers, Jaguars, Bills, and Raiders.
On top of that, he's also been catching the eyes of many since the summer with his athleticism and yards after the catch, particularly as a deep ball receiver, which Brown is known for and Maye loves to incorporate into the game plan.
Because Williams is capable of it all, there's a good chance he will leapfrog someone like DeMario Douglas in Brown's absence and could potentially become one of Maye's top options alongside Hollins, who can use his size to dominate matchups against even the best defenders.
That would surely make Williams rise to stardom much quicker than people have envisioned, and it would prove why the Patriots were keen on using a third-round pick on him last year.
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