A.J. Brown was back in the New England Patriots lineup on Sunday, giving quarterback Drake Maye the receiver the franchise brought in during June, at the price of a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick, for the first time since Week 1 of the NFL season.
Brown had missed four games with an ankle sprain suffered in his debut, and he drew 10 targets, the most on the team, in the 26-19 win over the Jets. The production didn’t match the volume, though, as the offseason acquisition finished with three catches for 27 yards and had several drops in his Gillette Stadium debut.
But Brown wasn’t the only receiver in the spotlight on Sunday.
David Butler II-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Romeo Doubs, who had led the Patriots’ receivers in Brown’s absence, caught a 42-yard touchdown from Maye in the first quarter, but a hard landing on his shoulder after the catch kept him out for the rest of the game.
On Monday, the Patriots placed Doubs on injured reserve, which means he will miss a minimum of four games. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the free-agent addition is hoping to be back after the Week 11 bye, and no lengthy absence is expected.
Doubs joined New England after four seasons in Green Bay and quickly became the Patriots’ leader among receivers, totaling 14 catches for 261 yards and three touchdowns.
That stretch covers the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the last of them in Munich. Assuming the recovery goes smoothly, he could be back as soon as Sunday, Nov. 29, against the Los Angeles Chargers, set for 8:20 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium, though the flex schedule could still move the kickoff.
In the meantime, more weight lands on DeMario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry, who figure to be key pieces, along with younger receivers Efton Chism and Kyle Williams, who have already made big plays as the Patriots won three straight to reach 4-2.
The Patriots will face the Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8:15 p.m. ET.
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