Patriots Week in Review: A.J. Brown's absence will test thin WR room

A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson and Marcus Bryant are out Sunday. From Brown's knee to Drake Maye on Tom Brady, here are the week's top Patriots videos from WEEI and everything you need for Patriots at Dolphins.

The Patriots will play in Miami without A.J. Brown. New England downgraded the receiver (ankle/knee) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) to out on Saturday after both missed Thursday's and Friday's practices. Swing tackle Marcus Bryant has also been downgraded to out. Brown was limited Wednesday before the knee flared up, and Mike Vrabel said Friday, "We continue to treat him, and then we'll see where he is tomorrow," as Meghan Ottolini wrote. The Patriots fly to South Florida Saturday afternoon and have until 4 p.m. to make roster moves and practice squad elevations, with one open spot on the 53-man roster, as ESPN's Mike Reiss laid out Saturday morning. They also cleared a little room for a deal: the Patriots restructured Hunter Henry's contract, converting half of his base salary into a signing bonus to create $3.3 million in cap space before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Read Ben Volin's report on the Henry restructure here.

It's the final chapter of a week dominated by Brown's health, Drake Maye talking Tom Brady, Vrabel's aggressiveness and Jonathan Taylor trade talk. Here are the week's top Patriots videos from the Greg Hill Show, Jones & Keefe and Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson, followed by a preview of Patriots at Dolphins, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. on CBS.

Maye, Brady and Patriots Monday

Drake Maye joined Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson for Patriots Monday and opened up about his relationship with Tom Brady, who will be back at Gillette Stadium in the broadcast booth to call the Patriots' Week 9 game against the Packers. Maye said that when the two met at a Fanatics event in 2024, he was "trying really not to embarrass myself around Tom," and that Brady talked about his work ethic. "There's no shortcuts to it," Maye said. Ottolini has more, including Maye's note that Brady is still close with Josh McDaniels and Vrabel, in Drake Maye reflects on meeting Tom Brady ahead of QB legend's Foxboro return. She also noted Maye is on pace for more than 4,300 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes, close to his MVP runner-up numbers from last season, though his eight interceptions already match his 2025 total.

▶ Drake Maye opens up on his relationship with Tom Brady | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (YouTube)

Maye also told the show which teammate he'd want backing him up in a street fight, took a listener's question about his favorite American cryptid and said he's optimistic about a Brown turnaround.

▶ Which teammate would Drake Maye want backing him up in a street fight? | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (YouTube)

The Maye vs. Caleb Williams debate carried over from last Thursday's 30-24 loss in Chicago. Adam Jones said on Jones & Keefe he's still taking Maye, but "if he's going to complete 70% of his passes, make the third-down throws he made and keep piling up points while winning games, I'll change my mind." Boomer Esiason told the Greg Hill Show that "both of these quarterbacks will be in the running many years to come, for the MVP," and that the AFC is "still open for anybody." Hall of Famer Ty Law said on the Greg Hill Show that Maye "played a masterful game" against the Bears and that "it's being overshadowed by the interception," and former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer broke down what he liked and didn't like from Maye. Evan Lazar of Patriots.com told Christian Arcand that Maye's rebound is proof of his mental toughness. For the full recap of the Chicago game, catch up with last weekend's week in review.

▶ Adam Jones is still taking Drake Maye over Caleb Williams | Jones & Keefe (X)

The A.J. Brown worry

Brown's week started with reassurance. Vrabel said on the Greg Hill Show on Monday, "No, I don't have any concern," and that the offense just has to "get back into a rhythm." Justin Turpin laid out Brown's slow start since returning from a high ankle sprain in Mike Vrabel is not concerned about A.J. Brown: 'Just have to get back into a rhythm'. Hunter Henry said he had no concerns either, and Tom E. Curran told Jones & Keefe on Tuesday, "I'm not concerned. I think he will have A.J. Brown games. I just think it's gonna be a little while."

▶ Tom E. Curran: No need to worry about A.J. Brown... yet | Jones & Keefe (YouTube)

▶ Hunter Henry is not concerned about A.J. Brown's slow start | WEEI (YouTube)

Then the knee showed up. Brown was added to Wednesday's injury report with a knee issue on top of the ankle, and he wasn't spotted at practice Thursday. Scott McLaughlin tracked the latest in A.J. Brown's injury situation takes a discouraging turn, noting that Brown has six catches on 16 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns in two games back, that he has dealt with a recurring knee issue throughout his career, and that the Patriots sent a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Eagles to get him. Jones & Keefe hit the panic button on Friday, Christian Arcand said he was very concerned, the Greg Hill Show asked whether the Patriots could regret the trade and Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson debated whether Vrabel pushed Brown back too soon. Asked Friday whether Brown was rushed back from injured reserve, Vrabel called them "separate issues."

Without Brown, Maye is left with DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III at receiver, with Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins on injured reserve. The Patriots have four receivers on the practice squad in Chandler Brayboy, Kyle Dixon, Cameron Dorner and Ryan Miller, and Reiss singled out Miller as a top elevation candidate because of his special teams experience. Miller played five games for Miami earlier this season before the Dolphins released him on Oct. 13. Tight ends Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon could also see a bigger share of the targets. With Henderson out, Rhamondre Stevenson is the lead back with Corey Kiner behind him, and practice squad running back Lan Larison is an elevation option for depth. Turpin joined Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson on Friday to talk about Brown's knee and other athletes who arrived in Boston with injury questions.

▶ The Patriots can't seem to catch a break with injuries | Jones & Keefe (YouTube)

Vrabel, the Jacas call and fourth downs

Vrabel joined the Greg Hill Show live from Gillette Stadium on Monday and was asked what he made of the roughing-the-passer call on Gabe Jacas, along with Maye finishing as the team's leading rusher in Chicago and whether his quarterback needs a reminder to slide.

▶ Mike Vrabel on the Gabe Jacas roughing-the-passer call | The Greg Hill Show (X)

Vrabel also stood by going for it on fourth down on the opening drive against the Bears. "Tried to be aggressive. That's something that we felt like we want to continue to do… We've had a lot of success doing that," he said. Jones & Keefe had no problem with the fourth-down aggressiveness, but the third-down play calling that led to those decisions was a different story. And when Vrabel was asked about a reported fine for conduct toward officials, he wasn't biting: "I'm not going to comment."

The bigger puzzle is the roster. Ottolini wrote in Mike Vrabel faces tough decisions with battered Patriots roster that the Patriots have more than a dozen players on injured reserve and only seven designations left to bring players back. "Those are tough decisions. I don't think those are things that you'd necessarily take lightly," Vrabel said. The Patriots waived punter Bryce Baringer, swing tackle Marcus Bryant is now out for Sunday, and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker will be sidelined for nearly a month. Vrabel also made tackling a focus of the self-scout after the Patriots missed more than a dozen tackles in Chicago.

Trade deadline buzz

With the deadline on Nov. 10, ESPN's Adam Schefter joined Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson on Wednesday and was asked whether he's heard the Patriots' name in any trade rumors.

▶ Adam Schefter on Patriots trade rumors | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (X)

Jonathan Taylor dominated the conversation. Jones & Keefe made the case that it makes sense for the Patriots to trade for the Colts running back, especially given Vrabel's success with Derrick Henry in Tennessee, the Greg Hill Show asked whether Taylor would be worth the price and Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson asked listeners whether they'd want the move. On Saturday morning, ESPN reported that the Colts are now willing to trade Taylor. The teams named as interested were the Broncos, Packers, Vikings, Giants and Seahawks, not the Patriots. Get the full Taylor report here.

▶ Jonathan Taylor makes sense for the Patriots | WEEI (YouTube)

The Greg Hill Show also wondered whether the Patriots should have checked in on Quenton Nelson after the Colts traded the guard to the Seahawks for third- and fifth-round picks, and asked Hoyer whether the Patriots will be buyers. Arcand wants the Patriots to make a splash. And Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane told the Greg Hill Show that players do follow the rumors: "Word travels fast." The Henry restructure leaves the Patriots with a little more than $5.2 million in cap space as the deadline approaches.

Dolphins week: trap game or get-right game?

On Thursday, the first of two days Brown and Henderson missed practice, Curran brought the concern level down on Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson by reminding everyone who the Patriots are playing this week.

▶ Tom E. Curran's reminder: The Patriots have Miami this week | Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (X)

Jones & Keefe said the Patriots should be judged on style points in Miami and have no excuses if they lose to the Dolphins. "This should be a get-right spot for A.J. Brown. I think he will have a big game," Jones said before Brown was ruled out. In their 60-second previews, Jones picked the Patriots 27-14 and Keefe went with 31-7. Nick Kostos told the Greg Hill Show that "the Pats are going to railroad the Dolphins," while FOX Sports' Chris "The Bear" Fallica told Jones & Keefe, "I can't see the Dolphins winning two in a row, but it might be a little uncomfortable for a little while." Spillane explained what makes Malik Willis so tough to defend, and Milton Williams told Jones & Keefe about his trash talk with Vrabel: "He loves it. He wouldn't want it any other way."

Ottolini has the warning label in Don't overlook the 1-5 Dolphins. Miami's red-hot rushing attack awaits Patriots: Miami has run for at least 100 yards in five straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL, Ollie Gordon II ran for 103 yards in the win over the Jets, and Willis is second among quarterbacks in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, behind only Josh Allen.

From Mego and Justin Turpin on WEEI.com

Meghan Ottolini: A.J. Brown questionable for Dolphins game as injuries continue to stack up against Patriots wide receivers
Meghan Ottolini: Don't overlook the 1-5 Dolphins. Miami's red-hot rushing attack awaits Patriots
Meghan Ottolini: Mike Vrabel faces tough decisions with battered Patriots roster
Meghan Ottolini: Drake Maye reflects on meeting Tom Brady ahead of QB legend's Foxboro return
Justin Turpin: Mike Vrabel is not concerned about A.J. Brown: 'Just have to get back into a rhythm'
Scott McLaughlin: A.J. Brown's injury situation takes a discouraging turn

Mego and Turpin also host the 6 Rings podcast, and their latest episode digs into the Patriots' IR dilemma and A.J. Brown's role in the offense.

Turpin has the Celtics covered too: The most encouraging trend of the Celtics' early season, Jayson Tatum delivers in the clutch again as Celtics escape with win over Nets and 5 takeaways from the Celtics' blowout win over the Bulls.

Preview: Patriots at Dolphins

When and where: Sunday, Nov. 1, 4:25 p.m., Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. TV: CBS (WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston), with Andrew Catalon on play-by-play, Logan Ryan as the analyst and AJ Ross on the sideline. Here's how to watch and stream the game.

Records: The Patriots are 4-3 and second in the AFC East, 3-0 at home and 1-3 on the road. The Dolphins are 1-5 and coming off their first win of the season, 28-25 over the Jets. The Bills lead the division at 5-1. Line: Patriots by 7, with an over/under of 43.5, at DraftKings as of Saturday morning. See the full matchup page, odds and forecast here.

Injuries: Brown (ankle/knee), Henderson (illness) and tackle Marcus Bryant are out after Saturday downgrades. Cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck) and linebacker Christian Elliss (chest) are questionable, and both were full participants all week. Read the full Patriots injury report breakdown here. For Miami, right tackle Kadyn Proctor (concussion) is out, cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Reese Taylor are questionable and running back De'Von Achane is on injured reserve. Get the Dolphins' final injury report here.

Keys to the game

Stop the run. Miami's running game is on a roll. The Patriots rank eighth in rushing yards allowed per game, but 21st in ESPN's Run Stop Win Rate, as Ottolini noted in her Dolphins preview.
Lean on Maye. Maye leads all quarterbacks in EPA per dropback since Week 4, and the Patriots rank fifth in passing EPA but 27th in rushing EPA. Dig into Evan Lazar's game plan breakdown here.
Start fast and tackle. The Dolphins didn't lead in any of their first five games before beating the Jets, and the missed tackles from Chicago can't carry over. See Patriots.com's three things to watch.
Handle the pass rush. Zach Sieler, Chop Robinson, Josh Uche and Jordyn Brooks lead a Miami front that will test a banged-up Patriots offensive line.
History. The Patriots swept the Dolphins last season, 33-27 in Miami and 38-10 at home. A win would make it three straight over Miami and put the Patriots at 3-0 in the AFC East, and Henry is one touchdown catch from passing Russ Francis for sole possession of third among Patriots tight ends. Read the full game preview here.

After Miami, the Patriots come home for the Packers in Week 9, with Brady in the booth.

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