Before the [Patriots](https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots) could get a feel for the impact A.J. Brown will have on their offense, they lost him to injury for weeks to come.
Brown will be out until at least Week 6 after being placed on IR on Friday, dealing with a high ankle sprain from his Week 1 exit vs. Seattle. Rather than bringing in any new receivers, it appears New England will be turning to some of its younger pass catchers to alleviate the offense.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Thursday on a radio show that the team will be taking "an all-hands-on-deck approach" to replacing Brown's production at wide receiver, which likely means more playing time for names like DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
"Any injury that you get at this time of the season, you kind of approach it with an all-hands-on-deck approach," McDaniels said Thursday, [per ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49905144/sources-patriots-aj-brown-go-ir-miss-least-4-games). "We got a lot of different skill guys that can do a lot of different things. There isn't one person on the roster that can replace anybody like A.J. -- in the middle of a game or a stretch of a season. So we'll band together and figure out what we can do well and then try to get guys in positions to play to their strengths."
The duo of Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will be expected to receive the bulk of the wide receiver targets from Drake Maye in Brown's absence, as each has plenty of NFL experience and has contributed to winning teams. But considering Brown's expected volume in 2026, it will take more than Hollins and Doubs.
Trading former starter Kayshon Boutte to the Texans now looks like a more questionable move from the Patriots, but depth is a strength at receiver. Outside of Brown, Hollins and Doubs are a collection of names who, at the very least, have shown they can produce in the NFL. Additionally, tight ends Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon will likely factor in more.
Here's a look at Douglas and Williams' numbers as they became key members for New England in the weeks to come.
DeMario Douglas stats
---------------------
Douglas, 25, is in his fourth NFL season. In 2024, he totaled 624 yards for the Patriots, one of the key members of the offense.
**Season**
**Games**
**Receptions**
**Yards**
**YPC**
**TDs**
2023
14
49
561
11.4
0
2024
17
66
621
9.4
3
2025
17
31
447
14.4
3
2026
1
5
20
4.0
0
**Career:**
**49**
**151**
**1,649**
**10.9**
**6**
Kyle Williams stats
-------------------
Williams, meanwhile, is 23, now in his second NFL season. As a rookie, he had a fairly limited impact, but the 2025 third-round pick has also been highly regarded by the Patriots.
**Season**
**Games**
**Receptions**
**Yards**
**YPC**
**TDs**
2025
17
10
209
20.9
3
**Career:**
**17**
**10**
**209**
**20.9**
**3**
### More Patriots