Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Vrabel: Patriots ‘confident’ in A.J. Brown’s knee

    Link copied to clipboard!

    NE Wide Receiver #11
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Patriots HC Mike Vrabel said the team is “very confident in where (A.J. Brown) is at physically.”

    Speaking with the media on Monday, Vrabel said he thinks “a lot of things get fabricated, and people tell stories,” when asked about Brown’s knee. Patriots executive VP of player personnel Elliot Wolf said last month that Brown has managed a degenerative knee condition in one of his knees since he first entered the league, and he has appeared in 15 or more games in three of his last four seasons. Vrabel acknowledged that Brown won’t do “every single thing” in camp/practice, but the team doesn’t appear overly concerned about the recently acquired receiver. Brown has posted four straight 1,000-yard campaigns and has scored seven or more touchdowns in each of those seasons. He profiles as a fringe WR1/WR2 for fantasy purposes in his first season with Drake Maye.
Defense costs Cowboys again vs. UDFA QB Daniels
Dan Patrick recaps the TNF action that saw the Buccaneers beat the Cowboys in Arlington, where the offense sputtered and shoddy defense cost the home team once again while facing UDFA rookie QB Jalon Daniels.

Related Player News

  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Garfolo made it clear that this is what the team hopes will happen, but it’s far from a sure thing. Week 6 is the first week Brown is eligible to return from injured reserve. The Pats placed him on IR after he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 1. Previous reports had Brown out for 6-8 weeks, so fantasy managers should be skeptical that he will be back for Week 6, but it’s at least on the table.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Schefter and other reporters previously called it a 4-6 week injury, which now seems unlikely. Schefter did add that Brown is moving “pretty well” and could come back on the faster side of his updated timeline. Still, it looks like Brown will miss at least half of the regular season. Romeo Doubs will operate as the team’s No. 1 receiver until he returns, though it will likely be a group effort to replace Browns’ production. Mack Hollins and Demario Douglas will also be more involved.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Schefter added Brown will miss four to six weeks with the high ankle sprain he sustained on Wednesday night against the Seahawks. It could be much longer than that before Brown is back to full health and operating as the Patriots’ alpha WR1. For now, Mack Hollins will slide into three-receiver sets and Romeo Doubs — who didn’t catch any of his three targets against Seattle — will likely function as Drake Maye’s top option. Demario Douglas could be an interesting add in deeper formats after leading the team with seven targets in Week 1.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    This doesn’t come as much of a surprise after it was reported on Thursday that Brown could miss at least the next four games. Now that he finds himself on injured reserve, the star receiver won’t be able to return until at least Week 6 when the Patriots play host to the Jets. Brown caught just three passes for 26 yards in his debut with the Patriots before exiting the game. After running just four routes in the first half of Wednesday’s game, Mack Hollins ran 22 routes in the second half and should see an increase in snaps in the coming weeks. Brown’s absence should also pave the way for Romeo Doubs to see more looks in the passing game after he saw just three targets in Week 1.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    NFL insider Jordan Schultz puts Brown’s return timeline between 3 and 6 weeks. Both reports make Brown a candidate to be placed on short-term injured reserve. The rest of the Patriots’ wide receiver corps failed to step up in Week 1. Newcomer WR Romeo Doubs will undoubtedly be given a chance to earn his hefty contract in Week 2.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Garafolo added, “MRI today after X-rays were negative.” That’s a good sign, but there is currently no timeline for Brown’s return. It will ultimately be a multi-week injury that could linger well into the season. Demario Douglas led the Pats with seven targets last night, though his looks are generally low-value check-downs. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will serve as the team’s primary outside receivers until Brown is healthy. Hollins led the Pats in receiving yards at a modest 51. Hollins is worth adding in deeper leagues, but it’s hard to imagine him putting up anything more than WR4 numbers while Brown is sidelined. Doubs should improve in Week 2 after failing to catch any of his three targets versus the Seahawks. He will get another shot at WR3 numbers against Pittsburgh next week.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Romeo Doubs said to reporters after the game that Brown told teammates, “Everything was going to be alright.” He added that Brown was doing really well. Brown had his ankle rolled on while going to the ground in the third quarter of last night’s game. He immediately grabbed his ankle in pain and eventually limped off the field. New England ruled him out after a trip to the locker room. It sounds like a high-ankle sprain, which would sideline Brown for at least a few weeks. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will both play more in his absence. Demario Douglas, who led the team with seven targets in Week 1, will also see more work.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    A Seattle defender landed on Brown’s leg in the third quarter and the former Eagle clutched at his ankle as soon as he hit the ground. Brown eventually made his way off the field and limped to the locker room. He was listed as questionable for roughly a quarter, but the team has now ruled him out. The immediate worry will be that Brown suffered a dreaded high ankle sprain. That would sideline him for multiple weeks, though it’s too early to say much about the injury. Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, and Demario Douglas will all see some extra routes sans Brown.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Brown had his ankle rolled on while attempting to corral a low pass in the third quarter. He limped off the field and went directly into the blue medical tent. He eventually walked into the locker room under his own power. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will serve as New England’s primary outside wideouts while Brown is sidelined. Demario Douglas could also see some extra run out of the slot.
  • NE Wide Receiver #9
    Boutte, according to Patriots beat writers and coaches, has functioned as Drake Maye’s favorite target, especially downfield, while A.J. Brown struggles to connect with Maye while dealing with consistent coverage from all-pro CB Christian Gonzalez. “If [Boutte] keeps this up, he’s either increasing his value on the trade market or playing his way into a meaningful role with the Pats,” Graff said. Boutte had been rumored as a trade candidate after the Patriots acquired Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason. He should be drafted in all 12-team fantasy formats in the coming weeks.

Rotoworld

  • BUF Wide Receiver #2
    Player Stats
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bills WR DJ Moore (shoulder) is questionable for Week 5 against the Rams.

    Moore failed to practice until Saturday after aggravating a shoulder injury in Week 4, returning to the field in a limited capacity while wearing a red non-contact jersey. That was apparently enough to keep the door open for an appearance on Monday Night Football against the Rams, although he certainly appears to be on the wrong side of the questionable tag. Fantasy managers would be wise to seek alternate options considering the timing of the game.
  • BUF Wide Receiver #5
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bills ruled out WR Joshua Palmer (shoulder) for Week 5 against the Rams.

    Palmer apparently injured his shoulder in practice on Friday before being absent Saturday, ultimately ruled out for Week 5 against the Rams on Monday Night Football. Fellow wide receiver DJ Moore is listed as questionable after failing to practice until a limited session Saturday, also with a shoulder injury, potentially leaving Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir atop the depth chart at the position.
  • BUF Wide Receiver #5
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bills WR Joshua Palmer (shoulder) did not practice Saturday.

    Palmer was added to the injury report Friday with a shoulder injury, likely indicating that was where he suffered the injury. This is bigger news when taken in the context of the potential absence of DJ Moore on Monday Night Football against the Rams after Moore aggravated a shoulder injury in Week 4. Expect Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman to function as the top two receivers, should both miss Week 5.
  • BUF Wide Receiver #2
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bills WR DJ Moore (shoulder) practiced with a non-contact jersey Saturday.

    This is the first time Moore has returned to the practice field after aggravating a shoulder injury in Week 4. Still no word on his game-day injury status, which will come later in the afternoon, but it a small step in the right direction for the veteran receiver. Fantasy managers likely want to continue the search for alternatives with the Bills playing on Monday Night Football.
  • IND Wide Receiver #11
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Colts WR Darius Slayton (knee) was ruled out for Week 5 against the Steelers.

    Slayton was listed as questionable after injuring his knee during practice on Friday. He’s since been ruled out, postponing his Colts debut for another week. Nick Westbrook-Ikene has been elevated from the Colts’ practice squad.
  • ARI Wide Receiver #18
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cardinals are finalizing a deal to trade WR Marvin Harrison Jr., reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

    The Cardinals informed Harrison this morning that he will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Lions as the details of the trade are finalized, according to Schefter. While it’s unclear where Harrison is headed, Schefter mentions the Houston Texans as one team known to have interest. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported this morning that the Cardinals could be seeking a second-round pick and a mid-round pick in return. Harrison has just five catches for 85 yards and one touchdown in four games this year. According to Schefter, no Harrison trade will be completed until after Sunday’s games. Stay tuned.
  • ARI Wide Receiver #18
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cardinals would want a second-round pick and more to consider trading WR Marvin Harrison Jr., reports the Ringer’s Tom Pelissero.

    Pelissero says the Cardinals would want a second-pick and perhaps a mid-round pick in exchange for Harrison. The 24-year-old receiver was drafted fourth overall two years ago, but under new coach Matt LaFluer he has 85 yards in four games this year. Pelissero points to Harrison’s decision to hire an agent last month as evidence he could be preparing for a trade. While Harrison has obviously been a disappointment in fantasy this year, he should find his way into some starting lineups against the Lions secondary in Week 5.
  • LAC Outside Linebacker #52
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Chargers EDGE Khalil Mack potentially being traded to the Bears makes the most sense if both teams continue on current trajectories, reports the Athletic’s Jonathan Jones.

    Mack, 35 and a former Bear, is on an expiring contract that Chicago currently has enough cap space to absorb. Jones pegs Mack’s trade value as worthy of a fifth-round pick, which the Bears also have. The hold up at the moment is that the 0-4 Chargers aren’t ready to deal. Los Angeles takes on the Broncos this weekend looking to avoid going 0-5, but if they don’t it could accelerate their willingness to start trading.
  • CHI Defensive Back #6
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bears CB Kyler Gordon (calf) is questionable to play in Week 5 against the Packers.

    Gordon practiced in full all week, so he is seemingly ready to play. The Bears could give it another week, though. Bears LB Noah Sewell (Achilles) and EDGE Shemar Stewart (knee) are also questionable this week. Both players practiced in full over the last two days and are likewise returning from the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
  • CHI Quarterback #17
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Bears QB Tyson Bagent will “most likely” start in Week 5 against the Packers.

    Caleb Williams (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity today, and the Bears ended up listing him as questionable to play. Consider him highly questionable. Rushing their star quarterback back onto the field when Bagent and Case Keenum have both played well is unnecessary. Regardless, keep an eye on this situation.