A.J. Brown Injury Timeline Revealed in New NFL Rumors After Patriots Star's Ankle Sprain

The New England Patriots will reportedly be without wide receiver A.J. Brown for at least a month after he suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday's season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday an MRI confirmed Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

"Ankle sprains are generally four-to-six [weeks], it will depend on how he is healing," Rapoport said.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz provided more context to the situation:

Brown was one of New England's marquee additions this offseason, and expectations were quite high entering his first game with the team.

He got off to a solid start when he drew a pass interference penalty that helped set up a touchdown, but he exited in the third quarter with three catches for 26 yards when he suffered the injury going for a pass.

While Brown was expected to be the go-to receiver for quarterback Drake Maye this season, he wasn't the only notable offseason addition at the position. The Patriots also added Romeo Doubs, although the former Green Bay Packers did not get off to an ideal start during Wednesday's loss to Seattle.

Doubs finished without a catch on three targets and had a critical drop as the visitors lost a 10-0 lead in the second half.

Ultimately, New England reached the Super Bowl last season without Brown. It has enough talent to tread water and remain on the short list of the AFC's best teams while he is out, and it will be up to Doubs, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas at wide receiver until the No. option returns.

The next five games for the Patriots are against AFC foes in the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets. Games against Las Vegas and New York seem like opportunities to pick up wins, but the Steelers, Jaguars and Bills all made the playoffs last season.

Maye and Co. will need to figure out a way to adjust without Brown for what could prove to be a critical stretch in the AFC playoff race.