New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel meets up with A.J. Brown during OTAs at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel meets up with A.J. Brown during OTAs at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Just two weeks after returning from a high ankle sprain, Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown was back on the injury report last week and wound up missing Sunday’s win over the Dolphins with a knee injury.
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked Monday morning on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” if the Patriots mismanaged Brown’s return from injury.
Brown suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1, then returned when first eligible in Week 6. He played over 100 snaps between the Patriots’ Week 6 win over the Jets and their Week 7 loss to the Bears four days later.
“You know, we’ll see where A.J.’s availability is this week,” Vrabel said on the radio.
“A.J. wasn’t available yesterday. He didn’t travel with us. So, we’ll see where he is today. I’m looking forward to going over there and seeing him in treatment.”
Brown’s knee injury first popped up on the injury report last Wednesday, when he was limited and unable to finish practice. He was a non-participant Thursday and Friday before being ruled out Saturday afternoon when the team traveled to Miami.
The Patriots were able to beat the Dolphins 24-19 without Brown. Wide receivers DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism combined for nine catches on nine targets for 156 yards with two touchdowns in a game in which the Patriots also lost tight end Hunter Henry to a foot injury.
Wide receivers Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) are currently on injured reserve, though Hollins is eligible to be activated this week.