The New England Patriots have ruled out wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back TreVeyon Henderson for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, citing an ankle and knee issue for Brown and illness for Henderson. Both players were initially listed as questionable but did not participate in practice Thursday or Friday, diminishing their chances of playing.
Brown, a significant offseason acquisition, has missed five of eight games this season. After suffering a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of Week 1, he was placed on injured reserve, returning for Weeks 6 and 7 before aggravating a knee injury. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel offered limited details on Brown’s condition, distinguishing the knee injury from the previous ankle problem and denying suggestions that Brown was rushed back prematurely. When asked about the potential long-term impact of Brown’s knee, Vrabel declined to speculate, emphasizing his focus on preparing the team for the upcoming matchup.
With Brown sidelined, the Patriots’ wide receiver depth on the active roster is limited to Efton Chism, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams, all of whom are under six feet tall and weigh less than 200 pounds. To bolster the unit, the team elevated receiver Ryan Miller from the practice squad. Miller, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 217 pounds, joined the Patriots’ practice squad 12 days ago after spending the early part of the season with the Dolphins. Over four seasons, Miller has appeared in 30 NFL games, recording 17 receptions for 254 yards and four touchdowns, while also contributing on special teams. The other practice squad receivers—Chandler Brayboy, Kyle Dixon, and Cameron Dorner—have yet to make their regular-season debuts.
In Henderson’s absence, the Patriots will continue to rely heavily on Rhamondre Stevenson, with Corey Kiner expected to see more playing time. The team also promoted running back and kick returner Lan Larison from the practice squad on Saturday, potentially adding further depth to the backfield.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant remains inactive after sustaining an ankle injury in the preseason. Although he returned to full practice last week, the Patriots have yet to activate him to the 53-man roster. If he is not added by the league-mandated Wednesday deadline, Bryant will miss the remainder of the season.
In a strategic move ahead of the November 10 trade deadline, the Patriots freed up $2.86 million in salary cap space by converting $3.575 million of tight end Hunter Henry’s 2026 base salary into a signing bonus. This adjustment provides the team with additional flexibility to pursue reinforcements at several positions of need, including defensive tackle, edge rusher, offensive line, wide receiver, and safety.
Despite the Patriots’ 4-3 record, they enter a challenging environment at Hard Rock Stadium, where they have struggled in recent years. However, Miami's 1-5 standing offers an opportunity for New England to capitalize, even without two key offensive players. Looking ahead, the Patriots will host the Green Bay Packers next Sunday before traveling to Munich, Germany, for a game against the Detroit Lions, followed by their bye week.