“We’re getting a good chance to kind of see where we’re at and seeing guys step up.”
A.J. Brown is going to miss some time with an ankle injury. Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images
September 15, 2026
6 minutes to read
Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel, and the New England Patriots are looking to turn the page after a disheartening loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.
To add insult to injury for New England after they squandered a 10-point, third-quarter lead to the defending Super Bowl champions, the Patriots will need to trudge ahead without one of their key offensive weapons, wideout A.J. Brown.
Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain in the third quarter of New England’s loss in Lumen Field, with the former All-Pro expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks while on the mend.
The loss of Brown was evident last Wednesday against the Seahawks. In New England’s final five drives of the night with Brown injured, New England only produced 93 yards of offense off of 32 total plays — with three of those five drives ending with back-breaking interceptions from Maye.
“I think we had a lot of scenarios last year where guys stepped up and made plays,” Maye said Monday on WEEI about overcoming Brown’s injury, adding: “Usually you kind of see this later on the season, but right off the bat, we’re getting a good chance to kind of see where we’re at and seeing guys step up.”
So how do the Patriots overcome the loss of their top wide receiver for the next month-plus slate of games?
Here’s a look at who needs to rise to the occasion to keep New England’s offense afloat.
Romeo Doubs
This one is rather evident — given both Doubs’ previous standing as New England’s WR2 entering the season and the free-agent pickup’s rough Patriots debut against Seattle.
Doubs didn’t reel in a single catch off three targets from Maye last week — with two of those throws leading to disastrous results. Maye’s first heave downfield to Doubs into double coverage resulted in a tip drill and eventual interception from Nehemiah Pritchett.
Later in the fourth quarter, a wide-open Doubs dropped a pass from Maye that would have gained 20-plus yards and pushed New England into Seattle territory in a 10-10 game.
After handing Doubs a four-year, $68 million contract this spring, New England is going to need Doubs to rise to the occasion as the club’s de facto WR1 over this next stretch of games.
The 26-year-old showcased some of that upside last season in Green Bay, snagging 55 catches for 724 yards and six touchdowns.
Josh McDaniels could utilize some of Doubs’ versatility as a route runner moving forward, as Doubs lined up both outside and in the slot for Green Bay in 2025.
He has proven to be a capable deep-ball threat, having snagged nine catches of 20-plus yards in 2025.
According to CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles, Doubs also recorded 14 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns on slot targets with Green Bay last year, while 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Matt Dolloff added that Doubs finished 15th in the league with 48 catches that went for a first down in 2025.
Be it moving the chains off of curls and crossers or going deep on throws from Maye, expect Doubs to earn a heavier volume of targets moving forward.
Kyle Williams
After getting zero targets last week against Seattle, expect Kyle Williams to get more looks as an explosive target for a Patriots offense that thrived off of big-play capability in 2025.
Williams’ skill is rooted in his 0-to-60 acceleration, which is put on display when the second-year wideout is asked to run go routes and make opposing defenses pay when they don’t put an extra defensive back over the top.
But Williams acknowledged on Monday that his talents aren’t rooted in just his speed.
“I mean, if I wanted to really go, I’d give you a Christmas list, for real,” Williams said Monday of how he can help New England’s offense. “But I can do a lot, man. And just when those opportunities present itself, that’s when I’ll be able to show it. But I know I’m more than just speed.”
Williams’ route-running has been a hindrance at times in the NFL, limiting him from taking the next step as a featured player in New England’s offense.
But Williams’ elite release skills off the line could make him the type of asset that can emerge as a valuable red-zone threat for a Patriots offense that ranked 17th in the league last season in converting red-zone trips into touchdowns at 57.1 percent.
Mack Hollins
Hollins was the wideout who rose to the occasion for most of last week’s loss to Seattle once Brown was sidelined.
The soon-to-be-33-year-old receiver made the most of added targets in the second half against the Seahawks, catching three passes for 42 yards in the fourth quarter.
The lone target that Hollins couldn’t corral in the fourth unfortunately was Maye’s third interception of the night, but Hollins has emerged as a dependable option for Maye during his two years with the team.
Hollins’ physicality as a 6-foot-4 wideout has been evident when asked to block and aid in the run game. But the eccentric pass-catcher will be counted on more than ever since arriving in Foxborough to use that frame to outmuscle defenders on curls and while scrapping for contested catches in the red zone.
“Mack’s always taking advantage of his opportunities,” Vrabel said Monday. “I think that the quarterback knows he’s going to be in the right spot when he’s supposed to be there. He’s a competitive player, plays on special teams for us. He’s just ready to go and ready to take advantage of the opportunities.”
Rhamondre Stevenson and the run game
As much as the Patriots are hoping for more from wideouts like Hollins, Doubs, and Williams moving forward, McDaniels and New England’s coaching staff might have to opt for a more conservative, meat-and-potatoes approach on offense over the next few weeks — with an added emphasis placed on the run.
New England’s focus on finding more equilibrium with its offensive scheme was evident this offseason, especially after the Patriots added a pair of bruising blockers in fullback Reggie Gilliam and tight end Julian Hill.
Hill was lost to a season-ending injury during OTAs. However, Gilliam is still expected to make a sizable contribution as a heat-seeking missile who relishes the opportunity to clear a path for running backs.
One of those tasks will be to make life easier for Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson — with the latter back on the practice field after missing Week 1 due to an ankle injury.
Henderson’s speed and standing as a home-run hitter in New England’s explosive offense will be a welcome addition if he’s cleared for game action on Sunday against Pittsburgh.
But Stevenson still figures to be the Patriots’ workhorse in the ground game, and is looking to bounce back after a so-so game in Seattle where he averaged just 2.8 yards per carry.
Granted, Seattle boasts a stacked front-seven unit on defense and has been one of the stingiest teams against the run since last season.
But Stevenson will need to be one of the top engines moving forward if New England’s offense wants to weather the storm and remain afloat without its top pass-catcher in the fold.
#Patriots reported signing FB Reggie Gilliam moves really well at 6-0, 244 pounds. Has some range at the position and body control to square up his targets while on the move.
Buffalo really liked this zone windback play with Gilliam leading up to the second level. pic.twitter.com/mSv9vc0VA6
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 9, 2026
Drake Maye
This is another obvious one.
New England can opt for a more conservative approach on offense. The Patriots can move the chains and carve up defenses by way of a million paper cuts — or by sticking to a ground-and-pound approach with Stevenson.
But the Patriots can’t survive this extended window without their best wideout if Maye isn’t in command of the offense and keeps squandering drives with brutal turnovers.
Maye wasn’t all that bombastic for the first three quarters of last week’s game against Seattle. But he did enough to earn a tough win — routinely capitalizing on the matchups that the Seahawks were giving him, especially on short-yardage throws, while also using his legs to extend plays and duck pressure.
Even on New England’s final drive of the night at Lumen Field, Maye put New England on the brink of a comeback win by getting the ball all the way to the Seattle 16-yard line — courtesy of two clutch fourth-down conversions.
Alas, it all went for naught after Maye’s ill-advised, off-balance throw in the end zone resulted in his third turnover of the night.
The Patriots can’t afford more of those poor decisions from their QB, especially with their top wideout weapon in Brown currently holstered.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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