The Emerald City is buzzing after our Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champs, took down New England 13-10. But the Patriots are waking up to a much bigger headache than a loss: superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown is believed to have a high ankle sprain, an injury that happened early in the third quarter with our own cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett involved in the play. This isn’t just a tough loss; it’s a potential season-shaker for a team that desperately needs its top offensive weapons.
Pritchett’s Play, Brown’s Bad Break
The injury went down when Brown was trying to snag a low throw from quarterback Drake Maye. On the replay, you could see Brown’s ankle bend awkwardly as it got trapped between the ground and Nehemiah Pritchett. Initially, Brown was listed as questionable to return, then quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. After the final buzzer, he was spotted in a walking boot on his right foot. The NFL Network reported Brown’s X-rays came back negative for a fracture, which is good news for him, but the belief is it’s a high ankle sprain. He’s got an MRI scheduled to find out just how bad it is. This kind of sprain involves those crucial ligaments connecting the tibia to the fibula, and depending on the grade, it could sideline him for a significant chunk of time. Maye, to his credit, took responsibility for the throw, saying he “should have hit him in the chest.” Safety Kevin Byard checked in on Brown, reporting he was “in good spirits,” which is a small comfort for New England. Brown finished with three catches for 26 yards and drew a huge 34-yard pass interference call before exiting.
New England’s Offense Is Already Struggling
Even with Brown on the field, New England’s offense looked rusty. Once he was out, it was clear they just couldn’t find any rhythm. Maye struggled, throwing three interceptions, including a back-breaking one in the end zone that sealed their 13-10 loss to our Hawks. Losing Brown, especially after New England worked so hard to get him, is a massive blow. They sent a 2028 first-round pick to Philadelphia to get him, part of a big push to upgrade Maye’s supporting cast alongside other additions like Alijah Vera-Tucker, Romeo Doubs, and Caleb Lomu. Now, their big investment might be out for a while.
The Patriots are set for their home opener on September 20 against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They might have to face that challenge without their WR1, which could really define the early direction of their season. For us in Seattle, though, it’s a hard-fought win and a strong start for the defending champs. Keep that energy up, 12s, because this team is looking good!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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