Preparing for their Week 3 matchup with the Jaguars was supposed to look a lot different for the Patriots, not only record-wise, since they're sitting at 1-1, but also regarding their roster. At this point, A.J. Brown was expected to be the superstar receiver the offense has long needed, building impeccable chemistry with Drake Maye.
But that hasn't happened because the wide receiver left their Week 1 Super Bowl rematch with an ankle injury. It was later revealed that he suffered a high ankle sprain that could keep him sidelined for up to six games.
It was a devastating development for an offensive scheme that was built around Brown's best attributes, forcing Josh McDaniels to get even more creative to fill the void in the receiver's absence.
That will need to improve against the Jaguars this week, and in the games ahead, as Brown is set to miss at least three more games, with some speculating he could be out until Week 8 at worst.
Fortunately, the latest update on his recovery provides some optimism that he could return sooner rather than later, which would be a major boost for an offense that hasn't exactly lived up to his potential through two games.
The latest update on A.J. Brown is exactly what the Patriots need to hear
That's what NFL insider Adam Schefter hinted at during his latest appearance on WEEI on Thursday morning.
He emphasized that Brown will likely need more time to heal, since he suffered a serious sprain, but he appears to be recovering much better than anticipated, so he might could return a little earlier than what was initially reported.
“I think that’s going to take a little while. I think it was supposed to be a six-to-eight week injury. I think he’s been, from what I understand, moving pretty well.
Looks like a guy that could come back on the quicker side of six weeks than eight weeks, so that’s encouraging … maybe it’s six [weeks] but you there’s still a little ways to go and you have to see how he is recovering.”
This is good news, given how serious a high ankle sprain can be and how long recovery can take. At the same time, it's still concerning to hear the insider mention that Brown could be out for up to eight weeks.
That might be the standard for some players, but from what we've seen around the league, many have returned much sooner, which is exactly what the Patriots will need if they're continuing to struggle offensively.
The only risk is having him return too early. There's no reason to rush him back onto the field if it only risks him getting injured again, especially since they'll need him down the stretch as the playoffs become a bigger focus.
It would be better to have him then, so they'll need to be smart about his recovery and his return. In the meantime, hopefully other players like Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins can step up and make the offense better than it has been without Brown on the field.
If not, it wouldn't be surprising if Brown is rushed back much sooner than he should be, which could be a disaster.
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