A.J.

Brown

Active for the first time since Week 1, Brown had an even more disastrous outing than that inefficient box score would indicate, as he was charged with at least three official drops and could end up with 4-5 when it is all said and done. One was a potential long score where the ball literally went through his hands. It was unbecoming of a highly-paid No. 1 wideout. Brown also looked stiff moving side to side, and might not be particularly close to 100 percent health returning from his high-ankle sprain. We assume things can only get better from here, but they absolutely have to in Thursday evening’s short-week potential shootout with the Bears’ leaky defense.

As are A.J. Brown (ankle) and LT Will Campbell (knee). It’s a rare day where all the injury news went right for a team. We can’t imagine Henderson will be in large for a particularly big backup role behind Rhamondre Stevenson, but the fact that a player the Pats didn’t even really “need” for Week 6 is giving it a go suggests he is close to regular health. Henderson is a boom/bust FLEX option. Inactive for the Patriots are CB Carlton Davis, CB Karon Prunty, QB Behren Morton, CB Channing Canada, OT Dametrious Crownover and TE Tanner Arkin.

Brown was activated from injured reserve this week and will suit up versus the Jets. It was reasonable to expect some sort of snap count in his first game back, but it sounds like Brown will be a full-go after looking great in practice this week. In desperate need of a true WR1 to step up, the Pats should pepper Brown with targets this week. He is back in the fantasy WR2 ranks after the lengthy absence.

Brown makes his return from a four-game absence following a Week 1 injury to his ankle, reintegrating into an offense that has found their stride in recent weeks. After leading the league in turnovers through the first three games, quarterback Drake Maye has accounted for a league-leading eight touchdowns since Week 4. Although Brown could be on a snap count in his first game back, fantasy managers have to be feeling ecstatic to get their second round pick back on the field.

Brown returned to practice this week after going on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. While nothing is official yet, it’s a great sign that Rapoport is anticipating a return for the 29-year-old wide receiver in Week 6 against the Jets. Brown may not play a full complement of snaps in his first game back, but is still essentially a must-start for fantasy managers.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said they’d make the decision on whether to activate him off injured reserve on Saturday, so at least Brown won’t be a game-time decision. Brown can be started with confidence if he’s active, though he’d potentially be in line for a pitch count to the point where he’d be more of a WR2 than a WR1 in his return.

Brown was a limited participant on Wednesday. He is reportedly taking a “one step at a time” approach to his return. We’ll see how his ankle responds to Thursday’s limited practice “with full shoulder pads.” Per Brown, the team is not rushing him back and will keep the long haul in mind when deciding whether to activate him. The Patriots (3-2) are in second in the AFC East.

Brown will return to practice today, likely for a limited session. The team now has 21 days to officially activate him from IR. That could happen later this week, which would mean he’s ready to suit up for Week 6 against the Jets. He would likely be on some sort of pitch count in his first game back, but even a limited AJB would be worthy of a spot in the WR2 ranks.

Brown has been rehabbing from a high-ankle sprain he suffered in the season-opener. It was reported on Sunday that Brown was walking without a limp, and last week NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that “the hope is” Brown will play in Week 6 against the Jets. The team has not opened his return window, which they will need to do in order for him to practice this week. Once that happens, the focus will then move to his practice status and whether or not he can log a full practice or two before the weekend. We would expect Brown’s 21-day return window in the next 24 hours if the team really believes there’s a chance he could return this week.

Brown sustained a high ankle sprain in the season opener against Seattle and has rehabbed over the past month. Patriots OC Josh McDaniels told Collins he doesn’t anticipate any delay in Brown’s return to the lineup. The team believes Brown will be ready to go in Week 6. He’ll re-enter a Patriots offense that has found its footing in recent weeks following a rough start to the year. His return would be a nice bump for Drake Maye, one of the league’s best downfield passers.