A.J. Brown's high ankle sprain sustained in Week 1 has placed the 29-year-old Patriots receiver on injured reserve, with reports indicating a four-to-six-week absence and no surgery required. This sidelines him for at least the next several games against the Steelers, Jaguars, Bills, and Raiders after he managed just three catches for 26 yards in his Patriots debut with quarterback Drake Maye. The injury caps his early-season target volume and overall yardage ceiling in a new offense where he was expected to serve as the primary option following his offseason trade from Philadelphia. Brown's prior seasons consistently delivered 1,000-plus receiving yards in 13-17 games when healthy, but the extended early absence shifts reliance to supporting receivers like Romeo Doubs and compresses the realistic path to high season totals.