The New England Patriots are officially eyeing reinforcements for their offense, with head coach Mike Vrabel announcing the 21-day practice window has opened for wide receiver A.J. Brown. It marks a potential end to his four-game sideline stint that began right here in the Emerald City, against our own Seattle Seahawks, back on September 9th at Lumen Field. The Patriots are setting their sights on the New York Jets, and Brown, along with offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, now have a 21-day runway to get back on the active 53-man roster.
Remember That High Ankle Sprain From Our Game?
Brown, who’s 29, went down with a high ankle sprain in that season opener against our Hawks. He managed to snag three passes for 26 yards before being ruled out, and he’s been on injured reserve ever since. This guy, a June trade acquisition from the Philadelphia Eagles, is a big deal. The Patriots shelled out a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder to get him. He’s got three Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, and even a Super Bowl LIX ring to his name. Across 106 games and 98 starts, Brown’s racked up 527 receptions for 8,055 yards and 56 touchdowns. You can bet New England wants that production back on the field, especially with fellow veteran receiver Mack Hollins now also on IR with a calf injury, leaving Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams to hold down the fort.
Coach Vrabel had nothing but praise for how Brown has handled his time off, saying, “I think his routine was really good, ability to be around guys in the meetings was good, and then also focus on his rehab. Just treated everything as a pro, be where he’s supposed to be and work hard to get back.” But let’s be real, a guy who hasn’t been out there for four weeks needs time. Vrabel added, “He hasn’t been out there for four weeks, so we’ll get him back out there practicing and see if he’s ready to go in a couple days. And if not, 21-day window and we’ll go from there.” It sounds like they’re cautiously optimistic.
Another Tackle Back Just In Time?
The same 21-day clock is ticking for 24-year-old offensive tackle Marcus Bryant. He’s been sidelined since getting rolled up on during the first drive of a preseason exhibition game, despite being eligible to practice last week. This is a crucial return for the Patriots. Their starting left tackle Will Campbell just suffered a right knee injury against the Las Vegas Raiders and was replaced by rookie Caleb L. Bryant, a seventh-round pick in 2025, made the 53-man roster as a rookie last season, appearing in 12 games and getting 19 snaps on offense and 56 on special teams. Having him back as a swing tackle could be huge for their O-line depth.
The Patriots need these guys back, plain and simple. They’re gearing up to face the New York Jets next, and getting a Pro Bowl receiver and an experienced swing tackle into the practice rotation is a serious boost. It’s a waiting game now to see if Brown and Bryant can shake off the rust and be ready to make an impact, with the clock definitely ticking for both.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
Leave a Reply