The most shocking fact about A.J. Brown’s injury isn’t that he is hurt. The real surprise is that the Patriots knew about his bad knee before they traded for him. While fans panic now, the team signed off on the risk months ago. This changes the story from a bad break to a calculated gamble that is failing fast.
Adam Schefter reported that the injury report lists both an ankle and a knee, but the knee is the real problem. “It flared up…I know it says ankle and knee, but it’s the knee,” Schefter said, according to the New York Post. The issue kept him out last week and now threatens his return for the Sunday game against the Green Bay Packers. He has played only 30 snaps since joining New England.
Other Teams Scared Off By The Knee
Before the trade, Philadelphia tried to shop Brown to other clubs. Several teams were interested but pulled back because of his history. “Let’s go back to the offseason, when Philadelphia was shopping A.J. Brown and they were talking to teams,” Schefter said. He noted that the Los Angeles Rams had advanced talks but stopped because they had questions about his knee. Those same concerns are now showing up on the field in Foxborough.
Eliot Wolf, the Patriots executive vice president of player personnel, addressed the issue back in June. He admitted the team knew the risks before the deal went through. “It’s a factor, but we examined him,” Wolf said in June. “He’s got a knee that has some wear and tear that we were aware of. Our training staff and medical staff signed off on it.”
Now the situation has turned dire for the franchise. WEEI host Chris Curtis told his co-hosts on the “Greg Hill Show” that he sees no path for Brown to return. “I don’t believe we will see him the rest of the season,” Curtis said. His words caused shock among the other hosts on the radio program.
Running Back Also Sidelined With Mystery Illness
The injury crisis hits another key spot on the roster. Running back TreVeyon Henderson missed last week’s game and will likely miss the Sunday matchup with the Packers. He described his condition as an “unexpected and unusual medical emergency” involving a series of “unexplained” neurological symptoms. Henderson said he spent several days in the hospital for testing.
Henderson explained that the symptoms have hurt his strength and coordination. He stated that he will focus on recovery while working with specialists. “My health and long-term well-being remain my foremost priorities,” Henderson added, according to the New York Post.
Last year, an offense that secured a Super Bowl berth for the team relied heavily on both players. With Brown out and Henderson sidelined, the Patriots face a tough challenge. The team will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
