The New England Patriots will be missing two of their most explosive offensive weapons for Sunday's pivotal AFC East road matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Star wide receiver A.J. Brown and second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson have both been officially ruled out by the team following a turbulent end to the practice week.
New England enter the contest holding a 4-3 record in the division standings, looking to bounce back following a Week 7 defeat to the Chicago Bears. However, head coach Mike Vrabel's side must navigate the test in South Florida without a pair of key playmakers who failed to make the trip.
Brown was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday before a knee issue flared up, adding to the ongoing management of a right high ankle sprain that had previously landed him on injured reserve following the season opener. Despite logging a heavy workload of 102 snaps across two games in a five-day span upon his return against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, the wideout was unable to finish the week on the practice field.
Addressing reporters regarding the decision, Vrabel explained that the receiver simply was not able to complete Wednesday's session and required continued treatment. The Patriots coach noted that the team ultimately wants their best players on the field, though the heavy snaps following a long injury layoff and the subsequent knee flare-up proved too much to overcome for this weekend.
Henderson was similarly sidelined late in the week after contracting an illness that kept him away from team facilities on Thursday and Friday. The running back's absence removes a vital home-run threat from the backfield, forcing the coaching staff to adjust their offensive game plan against a Miami defense vulnerable to play-action schemes.
Compounding the offensive concerns, the Patriots also ruled out offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, who will not be activated from injured reserve despite avoiding a formal injury designation on Friday. The team additionally missing wideouts Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins leaves the active roster with only three fully healthy wide receivers.
To help offset the personnel shortage, New England made roster adjustments on Saturday by signing first-year running back Lan Larison from the practice squad to fill an open spot on the 53-man roster. The team also elevated fourth-year receiver Ryan Miller from the practice squad to provide additional depth for the afternoon kickoff.
With Brown unavailable, the remaining receiving corps will lean heavily on DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III. In the backfield, Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner are expected to shoulder the primary responsibilities, with Larison serving as a change-of-pace option and a potential receiving threat out of the backfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time as the Patriots attempt to secure a crucial divisional victory on the road.
Join the conversation