Patriots fans’ frustration with AJ Brown might only intensify this week.
The star receiver missed practice on Thursday due to a new knee injury, according to multiple reports.
He was previously listed as limited with an ankle injury, but appeared on Wednesday’s practice report with knee and ankle injury designations.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Friday morning that Brown didn’t practice Thursday due to a knee injury he’s been dealing with the past few years that “flared up.”
It’s now “up in the air” whether Brown will play Sunday against the Dolphins.
The team was aware of Brown’s “degenerative knee condition,” according to Yahoo Sports, but their medical staff signed off on it before trading a first-round pick to Philadelphia for Brown in June.
Brown suffered a high ankle sprain in Seattle in the season opener and missed the following four games. Since his return, he caught three passes for 27 yards against the Jets and three passes for 48 yards against the Bears last week.
However, Brown dropped multiple passes against the Jets and muffed an onside kick.
Brown’s new injury could be another blow to a Patriots receiver room that is already dealing with a fair share of injuries heading into Week 8. Veterans Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs remain on injured reserve, with Hollins eligible to return to practice next week and Doubs out until at least Week 12.
When Brown addressed reporters Wednesday, he acknowledged that he’s still working to return to full strength from the ankle sprain, saying he felt some of the same explosion that he had before the injury, but not in every circumstance and that he’s “pushing through.”
“None of that stuff matters. I’m out here, so I’m going,” Brown said before practice on Wednesday.
