The New England Patriots are set to activate wide receiver A.J. Brown from injured reserve ahead of their game against the New York Jets on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Brown, who sustained a high-ankle sprain in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9, has not played since that game. He became eligible to return after completing a four-game injured reserve stint and resumed practice this past week, though he was limited during sessions and listed as questionable on the Friday injury report.
Brown, a three-time Pro Bowl selection acquired by the Patriots from the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, had three catches for 26 yards in his debut performance before the injury. His return comes at a time when the Patriots’ offense, led by quarterback Drake Maye, has shown notable improvement. Maye has thrown for an average of 321.5 yards over the past two games as New England posted consecutive wins, scoring 37 points per contest. Maye noted that Brown’s presence would add a valuable dimension to the offense and expressed optimism about spreading the ball among the team’s receivers.
On the Jets side, the team also made adjustments to their roster ahead of the game. Rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was activated from injured reserve and is expected to play, while linebacker Jaden Keller was promoted from the practice squad. The Jets acknowledged several key absences, including running back Breece Hall (quad), wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger), edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle), and offensive lineman Dylan Parham (knee), all officially ruled out for the contest.
New York’s offensive lineman Joe Tippmann reflected on a challenging performance in a recent game against the Cleveland Browns, where he was charged with two sacks and two penalties. Despite those setbacks, Pro Football Focus rated him as the highest-graded offensive player for the Jets in that matchup, largely due to his effectiveness in run blocking. Tippmann expressed commitment to correcting the mistakes and improving moving forward.
The Patriots will have a full 53-man roster with Brown’s activation but will need to declare four players inactive before game time due to NFL game-day limits. Meanwhile, Patriots safety Mike Brown was recently fined $6,750 for an unnecessary roughness penalty from their last game. Veteran referee Clete Blakeman will officiate Sunday’s game, marking his first New England game of the season and first time officiating the Patriots at Gillette Stadium since 2025.
Both teams appear to be adjusting personnel to address injuries and performance issues as they prepare for the Week 6 matchup, with New England aiming to build on its recent offensive momentum and New York seeking to overcome roster challenges.