FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots remain uncertain about the availability of wide receiver A.J. Brown for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday. Brown, who has been sidelined with a high-ankle sprain sustained during the season opener on September 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, returned to practice this week after a four-game stint on injured reserve. However, he was limited in both Wednesday and Thursday sessions, and the coaching staff plans to assess his condition after Saturday’s practice before making a final decision.
“We’ll have to see how he responds from practice [Friday], and then go from there,” Vrabel said. Brown himself acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his status, emphasizing the focus on recovery and long-term health over a short-term return. “It’s going to be coach Vrabel’s decision to see where I’m at and make the better decision for the long haul,” Brown said Thursday. “My focus is just on today and trying to get better, and see how I feel after.”
Vrabel noted that Brown’s performance throughout the week has been mixed, describing it as “some good plays, some bad plays,” and pointed to factors such as conditioning and physical response to practice as key considerations.
In addition to Brown, the Patriots are evaluating the health of several other key players. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III (neck) and Karon Prunty (hamstring) are expected to miss their second straight game after sitting out last Sunday’s 45-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, cornerback Christian Gonzalez is projected to return after missing two games with a shoulder injury; he participated fully in Thursday’s practice and was removed from the injury report on Friday.
Other players whose availability remains uncertain include left tackle Will Campbell and running back TreVeyon Henderson. Both were limited during practice this week and were listed as questionable on Friday. Henderson confirmed that an MRI revealed a high-ankle sprain sustained in the game against the Raiders but reported feeling improvement. “I feel pretty good. I think I’m getting better,” Henderson said post-practice. “We’ll see how things continue to go, and the decision we all end up making.”
Additional players listed as questionable due to various injuries are offensive tackle Marcus Bryant (ankle), cornerback Channing Canada (hamstring), linebacker Christian Ellis (chest), and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder).
On the Jets' side, several key players will also miss the game. Running back Breece Hall (quad), wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger), edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle), and offensive lineman Dylan Parham (knee) are confirmed out. Safety Dane Belton (knee), wide receiver Omar Cooper (ankle), and tight end Kenyon Sadiq (concussion) are questionable. With Hall sidelined, Braelon Allen is expected to take on a more prominent role in the Jets’ running game. Vrabel praised Allen’s running style, highlighting his ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact. Allen, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 235 pounds, has accumulated 236 rushing yards at an average of 4.1 yards per carry in five games this season.
The Patriots and Jets are scheduled to face off Sunday, with final roster decisions pending after Saturday’s practice sessions.