If you thought Philip Rivers' return to become the Colts' starting quarterback last season was a shocking development, Purdue football great Drew Brees reportedly discussed an even more improbable return.
ESPN reported Brees and Denver Broncos coaches discussed Brees returning to play for the franchise in last year's AFC Championship Game. The Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to an ankle injory in their AFC Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Brees, 47, had not played a game since his retirement from the New Orleans Saints after the 2020 season. According to ESPN, he wanted to work out prior to making any commitments. After doing so, he said he encountered wrist pain and decided against pursuing a return.
ESPN's report said even Broncos coach Sean Payton -- Brees' coach with the Saints -- did not know of the discussions until the summer.
The Broncos instead went with their actual backup, Jarret Stidham, in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.

#espn #saints #quarterback #discussed

The Denver Broncos were in a desperate situation entering the 2026 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. With starting quarterback Bo Nix injured and missing the game, the team reportedly reached out to Hall of Famer Drew Brees to see if he was interested in what could have been one of the most surreal moments in the sport's history.
The Broncos had homefield advantage, but were dealt a cruel blow with Nix breaking his ankle late in their Divisional Round overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the game and in blizzard-like conditions, could only muster seven points as the Patriots won 10-7 to advance to the Super Bowl.
But what if it was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time under center for the Broncos that day?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos did indeed reach out to Drew Brees to gauge his interest in an improbable comeback. Considering that Sean Payton coaches the Broncos and the pairing is one of the most successful in NFL history while winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, it's easy to see why Denver made the call. Brees and Payton are the second-winningest QB/Coach combo in NFL history, only behind Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Of course, there would have been one major obstacle to overcome. Drew Brees had just turned 47 and hadn't played a competitive NFL game since January 17, 2021 in a playoff loss to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Brees wouldn't have been alone in making an incredible return as Philip Rivers had come out of five years of retirement to play three games for the injury-plagued Indianapolis Colts. While Rivers went 0-3 as a starter, he completed 63% of his passes and threw 4 TDs to 3 INTS.

#super #payton

As week 1 comes to a close in the National Football League, we got to see an early look on what the AFC East may look like throughout the season. After their first games of the season the standings are as follows:
Buffalo Bills 1-0
New Jets 1-0
Miami Dolphins 0-1
New England Patriots 0-1

#look #buffalo #Jets #Miami

Patriots Make Four Practice Squad Moves Ahead Of Steelers Game originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots reshuffled their practice squad Monday as they began preparations for their Week 2 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New England signed wide receiver Chandler Brayboy and linebacker Xavier Holmes to the practice squad. The Patriots created the two openings by releasing safety Elliott Davison and running back Hassan Haskins. The team announced all four moves through its official website.
Haskins is the most experienced player involved in the transaction. The 26-year-old appeared in 44 regular-season games over four NFL seasons, including the last two with the Los Angeles Chargers.
New England signed Haskins on Aug. 12 and retained him on the practice squad after training camp. The former Michigan running back entered the NFL as a fourth-round selection by the Tennessee ****** ans in the 2022 NFL Draft. Haskins has recorded 76 carries for 229 yards and two touchdowns during his career. He also has 18 receptions for 199 yards and one score.

#practice #squad #steelers #nesn

The Seattle Seahawks are 1-0, so it's time to start scouting their next opponent.
The Arizona Cardinals shocked the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 with a 26-14 win in which Mike LaFleur became the franchise's first non-interim head coach to win their first game in charge. The matchup was projected as one of the opening week's most lopsided in favor of Jim Harbaugh and Los Angeles, who were coming off an 11-6 record in 2025. Los Angeles made the playoffs and lost to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots in the Wild Card round, albeit without either of their starting offensive tackles—Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt—who were both expected to boost the offense upon their return this season. Arizona's defense had other ideas, and became one of the biggest surprises of any unit across Week 1's Sunday slate, while their offense simply looked more talented and outplayed LA with complementary football. That's what the Seahawks will be looking for in Week 2.
The Cardinals defense played with an energy that stifled Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who only held the ball for 51 plays and 22:29. Arizona ran 21 more plays and had the ball for 15:02 more of the game (more than an entire quarter?!) When watching this game, the attitude from Arizona's defense seemed to disregard the stature of its opponent. LaFleur retained defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, who Phoenix-based sports radio host John Gambadoro credits for helping set the temperature.
It's easy to see Rallis' results. The intensity of the defense that showed up on tape is just as evident on paper. His Cardinals defense ranks second to last in blitz rate so far this season, yet they held McDaniel and Herbert to a measly 2-for-8 on third downs and 0-for-3 on fourth downs. Their front seven was far more formidable than the Chargers on the day, producing 17 pressures on 55 snaps while LA could only muster 12 on 75 opportunities. On the flipside, the Cardinals' offensive line has been projected as their downfall this season. The Seahawks have a clear opportunity to establish their presence as a physically dominant team if they kill the Cardinals momentum. This will be the game for elite run blockers like AJ Barner and run stoppers like Uchenna Nwosu to put the new age film community on watch.
Offensive talent is far from the problem in Arizona. Trey McBride is the best tight end in football. They've got two running backs in Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier who can both be a problem for any team. Marvin Harrison Jr. was a matchup nightmare against the Seahawks last season. In Week 3, he had one of the best battles against Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen of any wide receiver all year. When partnered with a seasoned veteran quarterback with a quick release, they were able to make life easy on their OL. Jacoby Brissett looked like at least an average starting QB, completing 27/37 passes for a respectable 73.0% completion rate while taking only 1 sack on 39 dropbacks. Loo

Now that football season has returned, so has the season of tracking the sizes of the TV audiences for football games.
The first of 283 games that count in the 2026 season — a Super Bowl LX rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks — averaged 25.1 million viewers.
The good news is that the season-opening game has exceeded 25 million viewers for four straight years, matching the same run from 2013 through 2016. The bad news is that, via Manny Soloway of Awful Announcing, the number fell 12 percent from last year's 28.3 million who watched the Eagles host the Cowboys, and it was the lowest since 2022.
It's fair to wonder whether the dip had anything to do with the season starting on a Wednesday. The last Wednesday night Week 1 kickoff game happened in 2012, with the Cowboys-Giants game generating 23.9 million viewers. In contrast, the Thursday night opener the prior year, between the Saints and Packers, drew 27.2 million.
That's odd, to say the least. The Cowboys were (and still are) the Cowboys. And the Giants — in the nation's top media market — had just won the Super Bowl. It's lower number than would have been expected, and it could have had something to do with Wednesday vs. Thursday.

#wednesday #viewers #super #thursday

New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) is expected to participate in practice Monday, Sept. 14, according to head coach Mike Vrabel.
SOURCE: NFL.com
Why It Matters: Henderson was not available to play in Week 1 because of the injury but is off to a good start this week. Fantasy players should monitor his progress this week to see if he will be cleared to play. He will share playing time with Rhamondre Stevenson if active and can be a No. 2 running back or flex option in leagues.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TreVeyon Henderson set to return to practice

#week #treveyon

Jaxson Dart was first linked to Marissa Ayers in October 2025
Dart and Ayers made their relationship Instagram official in January 2026
Ayers is a ring girl, model and influencer
Jaxson Dart's girlfriend Marissa Ayers is cheering on the New York Giants quarterback from the stands.
Dart first sparked romance rumors with Ayers back in October 2025, when the couple was spotted at a Halloween party. Those reports ramped up even more after she was photographed with his mom, Kara Dart, during his game against the New England Patriots in December 2025.

#dart #jaxson #october #Instagram

Mike Vrabel used his weekly Monday appearance on The Greg Hill Show on Sportsradio 93.7 WEEI to work back through New England's 13-10 loss in Seattle, and the players he chose to talk about were three rookies who had never taken an NFL snap before Sept. 9: tight end Eli Raridon, edge rusher Gabe Jacas and linebacker Namdi Obiazor.
Raridon, the third-round pick out of Notre Dame, caught a two-yard touchdown from Drake Maye that produced the first points of the 2026 NFL season. He played 38 offensive snaps, 54 percent of New England's total, working as the second tight end behind Hunter Henry.
Jacas, taken 55th overall out of Illinois after the Patriots sent three picks to the Los Angeles Chargers to move up, came off a double team for his first career sack and later added a tackle for loss.
Obiazor, a sixth-round pick from TCU, opened the game with a hit on the kickoff and played 20 special teams snaps without seeing a defensive one.
Jun 2, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel holds a press conference before the start of practices at the team's OTA at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

#jacas #obiazor #Patriots #taken

Patriots-Steelers Broadcast Crew Features Fascinating Family Connection originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots will receive CBS' top broadcast treatment for their Week 2 home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play alongside new lead ***** yst J.J. Watt, with Tracy Wolfson reporting from the sideline. The ***** ignment creates an especially compelling storyline because Watt will be ***** yzing a game featuring his younger brother, Steelers star T.J. Watt. CBS announced its Week 2 and Week 3 broadcasting ***** ignments Monday, according to The Athletic's Richard Deitsch. Deitsch noted that J.J. Watt remains on the network's No. 1 team, while longtime lead ***** yst Tony Romo was not included on the schedule.
The Patriots will host the Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. The game will air on CBS.
J.J. Watt will have to ***** yze one of the people he knows best. T.J. Watt remains the centerpiece of Pittsburgh's defense and one of the NFL's most disruptive pass rushers. His matchup with New England's offensive line could become one of the deciding factors in the game.

#lead

After struggling in the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots offense was hopeful to turn things around in its rematch with the Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 1. While the game as a whole was much more competitive, the end result was still disappointing.
The Patriots finished with just 10 points on the day, turned the ball over three times, and were plagued by some of the same issues that already haunted them back on Super Sunday. The game was there for the taking, but Drake Maye's third interception of the day sealed it in the home team's favor, which came away with a 13-10 victory over the reigning AFC champions.
In the aftermath of the loss and New England's disappointing outing, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels found himself the subject of criticism for what was seen as a fairly conservative game plan. However, head coach Mike Vrabel defended the plan on Monday.
"I don't look at things as conservative. That's what we felt like was best against this defense," Vrabel said during an appearance on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show.
"We didn't hit some things and you have to be able to run the football against split safety defense. That's no secret. You don't play split safety defense to stop the run; they play it to not give up big plays. We tried to hit some shots down the field. We threw it to the running backs a couple times for 12 or 15 yards when they were all off there, and on the interception should have thrown it to the back again for a third time. You just can't get bored doing things right. If it's not there it's not there."

#things #disappointing

The Indianapolis Colts are one of a number of NFL teams in attendance at Saturday's Ohio State vs. Texas game, according to Ryan Fowler.
It's no surprise that the Colts have representatives at this game, given the high-profile matchup between two top-five teams.
Fowler did not specify who from the Colts is at the game.
The following NFL teams will have reps present at Ohio State - Texas tonight:

• Eagles
• Cowboys
• Seahawks
• 49ers
• Broncos
• Colts
• Patriots
• Panthers
• Lions
• Chargers
• Texans
• Ravens
• Rams
• Dolphins
• Jets
• Browns
Scouts and/or personnel executives attending college football games in person is common practice in the NFL. It is a regular part of the evaluation process.

#teams #ryan

The Patriots made official the signing of veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. To get him on the roster, the Patriots needed to open a spot.
New England did that by placing wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve.
Brown, who has a high-ankle sprain, will not be eligible to return until missing at least four games. He will not play against the Steelers, Jaguars, Bills and Raiders.
Brown caught three passes for 26 yards and drew a 34-yard pass interference penalty that set up the team's lone touchdown in the loss to the Seahawks.
Veteran Mack Hollins and second-year WR Kyle Williams are the next players up at the X receiver spot.

#brown #veteran #england #jaguars

Early big-time college football matchups are all the rage, and the Philadelphia Eagles will have representatives in Austin for one of the most talent-rich games on the early college football schedule.
Philadelphia is among 16 NFL organizations expected to have scouts present when No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 4 Texas on Saturday night at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Eagles will join the Cowboys, Seahawks, 49ers, Broncos, Colts, Patriots, Panthers, Lions, Chargers, Texans, Ravens, Rams, Dolphins, Jets and Browns in evaluating two rosters loaded with potential NFL talent.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is expected to become one of the most coveted prospects in the 2027 draft. His matchup against Texas' secondary will give evaluators another opportunity to study his releases, route running, and ability to produce against top competition.
The following NFL teams will have reps present at Ohio State - Texas tonight:

• Eagles
• Cowboys
• Seahawks
• 49ers
• Broncos
• Colts
• Patriots
• Panthers
• Lions
• Chargers
• Texans
• Ravens
• Rams
• Dolphins
• Jets
• Browns
Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and Texas quarterback Arch Manning will receive plenty of attention, even from organizations without an immediate need at the position. Comprehensive quarterback evaluations remain valuable because their eventual landing spots can influence the entire draft board. Texas edge defender Colin Simmons is another prospect capable of commanding the attention of Philadelphia's personnel department. His ability to pressure the quarterback and defend the run fits the athletic profile the Eagles have consistently valued along the defensive front.

#texas #state #philadelphia #colts

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel doesn't have any regrets about his decision to rest the starters during the three-game preseason slate.
However, it was clear that the team showed rust in Wednesday's 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Vrabel opted to use the preseason to focus on the roster depth and preserve the health of the starters.
That's a decision that he continued to defend after the disappointing loss in the season opener.
"Playing the backups for the Eagles or the Colts for eight plays, I don't think was going to prepare us for what we saw last night," Vrabel told media members. "I thought we handled the environment; I thought we did. I know the execution wasn't good enough, but the line of scrimmage, penalties, the operation, those things gave us a chance. Some other things didn't give us a chance."
Mike Vrabel on if he regrets not playing any Patriots starters in the preseason.

"Playing the backups of the Eagles or Colts for eight plays I don't think was going to prepare us for what we saw last night." pic.twitter.com/L1efdmrmsk

#starters #colts #regrets

The New England Patriots' regular season is underway, which also means that their roster and practice squad will undergo near-constant change. For reference, between the opener and regular season finale alone last season, the eventual conference champions made 102 different transactions.
It remains to be seen how many there will be in 2026, but things can get confusing quick. So, in order not to get lost amid any potential movement, here is our handy up-to-date Patriots roster and depth chart.
Quarterback (3): Drake Maye (10), Tommy DeVito (16), Behren Morton (15)
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson (38), TreVeyon Henderson (32), Corey Kiner (9)
Fullback (1): Reggie Gilliam (44)

#tommy

The Cleveland Browns are set to kick off their 2026 NFL season on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse (8) is seen prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Heading into this week's season opener, there are a lot of questions surrounding the Browns. How will Deshaun Watson play? Will the new-look defense without Myles Garrett be anything close to what it has been in recent years?
Defensively, the trade of Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams shook up the NFL landscape during the offseason. Garrett was fresh off of breaking the NFL single-season sack record last season in Cleveland. In exchange, the Browns acquired young pass rusher Jared Verse and draft capital.
Ahead of this week's game against the Jaguars, Verse spoke out with a clear warning to Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

#verse #garrett

Following the sudden retirement of veteran center Drew Dalman this offseason, the Chicago Bears wasted no time in making a trade for Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots, looking to stabilize the position this season.
Chicago also drafted rookie Logan Jones in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and while he was believed to bring competition to Bradbury, the veteran took control of the battle in preseason and will begin the year as the team's starting center.
Bradbury will be reunited with his college teammate in Joe Thuney as starters on the Bears offensive line, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor credited the veteran with earning the trust of his coaches and teammates.

#bradbury #Chicago #bears #garrett

The New England Patriots may need to address their edge rusher unit after another injury landed on Harold Landry's doorstep to begin the 2026 NFL season.
The Patriots have a productive unit when healthy, led by Landry and Dre'Mont Jones, with rookie Gabe Jacas expected to produce meaningfully for the team. However, more may be needed.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox labeled Maxx Crosby and Kayvon Thibodeaux as being two star edge rushers that the Patriots ought to trade for in 2026, in the event that they pursue a player to fill their needs in the trade market.
"If another team comes calling about Crosby, the Raiders will undoubtedly listen," Knox said. "They're in the early stages of a rebuild and may not be ready to contend while Crosby is still in his playing prime. The asking price will be high, but teams that believe they can chase a Super Bowl are bound to target him before November 10."
Crosby is a superstar edge rusher who has the talent to take New England over the top in the Super Bowl race. Giving up draft picks and a player or two will do the Patriots much good to stack their roster with Drake Maye, A.J. Brown, Christian Gonzalez, Romeo Doubs and Crosby as the heaviest-hitters on their team.

#super

The NFL played two of its 16 Week 1 matchups, Wednesday's New England Patriots-Seattle Seahawks opener and Thursday's San Francisco 49ers-Los Angeles Rams game in Melbourne, and now waits until Sunday for the rest of the slate.
College football fills that gap tonight, and it's doing it with the No. 1 team in the country walking into Austin. Ohio State takes on Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, a rematch of last year's opener that the Buckeyes won 14-7, except this time, both programs enter ranked in the top four.
The marquee matchup arrives at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, when No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 4 Texas in Austin. In that same primetime window, Louisiana Tech visits No. 8 LSU on SECN+, and No. 13 Texas Tech travels to Oregon State on CBS.
The day opens with a stacked noon slate with No. 6 Oregon at Oklahoma State on ESPN, Howard at No. 5 Indiana on Big Ten Network, Arizona State at No. 10 Texas A&M on ABC, No. 11 Oklahoma at Michigan on FOX, and No. 16 Penn State at Temple on ESPN2.
That Indiana game is worth watching for a different reason, with the Hoosiers entering as the reigning national champions.

#indiana

The New England Patriots are collecting former Buffalo Bills.
New England is signing veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The deal includes a $3.5 million base salary.
Jones becomes the sixth former Bills player currently with the Patriots, joining fullback Reggie Gilliam, wide receiver Mack Hollins, offensive lineman Greg Van Roten, tight end Shane Zylstra and punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
Zylstra and Wishnowsky were released by the Bills as part of final roster cuts two weeks ago and are on New England's practice squad.

#england #jones #wishnowsky #daquan

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, generated another viral moment on Wednesday during his speech at the Republican midterm convention — and he says he's not sorry.
Gill opened his remarks with a land acknowledgment, a growing trend among Democratic politicians to begin speeches by noting the Native American tribes who historically lived on the land their events are on.
"I'd like to acknowledge that we stand here today in the great state of Texas and the United States of America is the ancestral homeland of great American patriots, pioneers and explorers who put down roots, fight for freedom all over the globe and bled and died to build the greatest civilization ever known to man," Gill said, the Republican crowd roaring in response.
Gop's Freshman Firebrand Goes Viral Targeting 'Utterly Intellectually Indefensible' Dei Policies
U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 9, 2026, in Dallas, Texas.

#republican #convention #great

JACKSONVILLE — Overtime hasn't been kind to Trinity Christian this season.
American Heritage quarterback Neimann Lawrence plowed into the end zone on a two-point conversion in overtime to lead the Patriots to a 15-14 win over the Conquerors on Friday, Sept. 11.
The loss dropped Trinity (No. 3 Class 1A) to 2-2. Both losses — Ed White in the season opener and American Heritage — have come in overtime.
Unfortunately for the Conquerors, this one seems very self-inflicted. American Heritage (2-2, No. 1 Class 4A) twice lined up to kick a tying extra point but Trinity Christian had a pre-snap penalty both times. With the ball now at the 1-yard line, American Heritage coach Mike Smith opted to go for the win.
"Lack of discipline," Trinity Christian coach Verlon Dorminey said. "We've been hammering on them. To be in the neutral zone twice. To give them an opportunity. I wanted to go to the second overtime. Or at least give us a chance to block the extra point, but we didn't get to. And they got if."

#christian

EDITOR'S NOTE: Coaches are reminded to send in game results each weeknight, from 6-10 p.m., by emailing them to pjsportsprovidencejournal.com.
Sara Nencka scored two goals and teammate Julia Fox added the game winner with eight minutes remaining in the contest to push the Huskies past the Avengers. Mt. Hope also got a solid performance from netminder Moira Ware who collected 12 saves.
Also factoring in the win were Aubrey **** s and Olivia Overy with an **** ist apiece.
For East Greenwich in the loss, Vivian Gelzhiser and Maeve Soden scored a goal each, Elizabeth Low and Maeve Monaghan each had an **** ist and netminder Scarlett Ruff had 4 saves.
Bella Pfeiler led the Patriots with two goals and Allison Patten had a goal and two **** ists to hand St. Raphael its first loss of the season.

#maeve #netminder

Final Eagles injury report ahead of Week 1 game vs. Commanders appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After watching their 2025 NFL season get derailed by injuries – in addition to the play-calling faux pas of Kevin Patullo – the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves relatively unscathed heading into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Now granted, that can change in a hurry, as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots quickly learned in their Wednesday night Super Bowl rematch, but with their final injury report submitted before Week 1, only two players appear: star free agent edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who is officially out, and rookie tight end Eli Stowers, who is questionable to make his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders.
While Greenard won't be on the field in Week 1 alongside Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and company, it sounds like his absence won't be an extended one, as he said he was "close" heading into Week 1.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#Commanders

It has been a rough start to the season for the New England Patriots. They dropped the Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks 13-10 and lost their star wide receiver AJ Brown for at least the next four games in the process with a high ankle sprain.
Brown exited the game in the third quarter and did not return. New England scored all their points in the first half and were held without points after Brown exited. Their top receivers are now Romeo Doubs, Demario Douglas and Mack Hollins although quarterback Drake Maye could not seem to get on the same page as Doubs who did not have a single catch.
Douglas finished the opener with five catches but only 20 yards while Hollins was the Patriots' leading receiver with 51 total yards. Rookie tight end Eli Raridon scored New England's only touchdown of the game in the second quarter.
Not only are the Patriots without Brown for the next four weeks at least, but they are also currently without running back TreVeyon Henderson who missed the opener. It is unclear whether or not he will be available for New England's week two matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Perhaps in the only bright spot of the game for them, Rhamondre Stevenson had a good game in relief of Henderson with 95 scrimmage yards - 51 rushing yards and 44 receiving yards on five receptions. Nonetheless, adjusting the offense to Brown being out of the lineup is going to be difficult for the reigning AFC Champions who will face the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills without their top receiver.

#Patriots #receiver

NFL star Aaron Rodgers did not mince words when he slammed ESPN over its lack of coverage of former journalist Dianna Russini's alleged affair with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
"I also said you're a gutless organization because they haven't said anything," Rodgers, 42, said during his Thursday, September 10, appearance on the Not Just Football with Cam Heyward show. "They spend so much time on certain issues but you won't talk one second on the Dianna Russini situation."
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback went on to explain that ESPN reported on San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York's prostitution scandal on the front page of its website, but failed to acknowledge the scandal involving Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 51.
"They will rotate the eight stories or whatever they have but they usually have like the one story that's featured," Rodgers continued. "That was the featured story. So you bring in how many millions of eyes to that situation. Why do you want to throw Jed York under the bus? I don't know. But does that have the same effect as a reporter who's, you know, has intimate relations with a coach, who has a vote for MVP, has a vote for coach of the year. I don't know if she's on the Hall of Fame [voting committee] or not but there's voting stuff."
JPA/AFF-USA.com / MEGA; Eric Canha/Cal Sport Media/Newscom/The Mega Agency

#know #espn

Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels Describes Team's 'All-Hands' Approach Without A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Before the Patriots could get a feel for the impact A.J. Brown will have on their offense, they lost him to injury for weeks to come.
Brown will be out until at least Week 6 after being placed on IR on Friday, dealing with a high ankle sprain from his Week 1 exit vs. Seattle. Rather than bringing in any new receivers, it appears New England will be turning to some of its younger pass catchers to alleviate the offense.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Thursday on a radio show that the team will be taking "an all-hands-on-deck approach" to replacing Brown's production at wide receiver, which likely means more playing time for names like DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
"Any injury that you get at this time of the season, you kind of approach it with an all-hands-on-deck approach," McDaniels said Thursday, per ESPN. "We got a lot of different skill guys that can do a lot of different things. There isn't one person on the roster that can replace anybody like A.J. -- in the middle of a game or a stretch of a season. So we'll band together and figure out what we can do well and then try to get guys in positions to play to their strengths."

#Patriots

New England Patriots star wide receiver A.J. Brown will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
The team has placed Brown on injured reserve due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered in Wednesday's season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The move means Brown will miss at least four games.
Brown suffered the ankle injury during the third quarter and did not return, dealing an early blow to a Patriots offense that struggled to find consistency late in the game.
The Patriots appeared to be in control for much of the night, carrying a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter before Seattle mounted a comeback. The Seahawks scored 13 unanswered points to erase the deficit and spoil New England's season opener.

#ankle #season

Why Patriots' Schedule Could Complicate A.J. Brown's Timeline For Return From Injury originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The A.J. Brown era for the Patriots hasn't gotten a good start, with the wide receiver catching just three passes in a Week 1 loss before going down with a high ankle sprain.
Brown is set to miss a minimum of four games for New England, placed on IR on Friday, per ESPN. With Brown's injury expected to sideline him for around four weeks regardless, the Patriots decided to put him on IR, officially locking in that timeline.
Based on the four-week timeline, the earliest Brown could return is in Week 6 against the Jets, a Sunday afternoon game on Oct. 18. That will primarily depend on how his ankle heals — but New England's schedule could also make his return complicated.
Here's why the Patriots' schedule could throw off Brown's return, making it even longer before the star receiver is back on the field.

#Patriots #return #four