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Patriots News: How to power through the Brown-out

New England suffered a frustrating start to the 2026 campaign, squandering a 10-0 halftime advantage in a 13-10 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks. J.

Brown hurt his ankle during the contest and was subsequently placed on injured reserve, leaving him sidelined for roughly six weeks with an expected return around midseason. The transaction caught offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels off guard, as he only found out about Brown's roster designation while speaking on WEEI radio.

With their primary pass-catcher out of action, McDaniels must adjust his system to maintain momentum for quarterback Drake Maye, who tossed three passes in the second-half collapse. Beyond the tactical setbacks, Brown also attracted attention for sideline interactions caught on tape, including pre-injury words of encouragement to the offensive front as well as a viral post-loss clip that drew fan criticism.

Meanwhile, New England has brought in another player to bolster the roster while working through the wide receiver's extended absence.