The New England Patriots were thrilled to land superstar wide receiver AJ Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason, giving quarterback Drake Maye a clear No. 1 weapon in the receiving game.

However, nine weeks into his debut campaign with the Patriots, Brown has appeared in just three games.

Brown suffered an ankle injury early in the Patriots' Week 1 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, causing him to miss each of the team's next four games. The 29-year-old wide receiver returned to the field for Weeks 6 and 7, but has since been sidelined with a high-ankle sprain and a nagging knee issue that's affected him throughout his NFL career.

The Patriots will travel to Germany for a Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions this coming Sunday. And according to head coach Mike Vrabel, Brown will likely travel with the team.

“I mean, I think that that’s the plan," Vrabel told reporters. "There’s no decision on that, but I would imagine that that’s the plan.”

While Brown could travel with the team to Germany, it may make sense to keep him sidelined for one more week. The Patriots have their bye in Week 11, which would give Brown extra time to recover as New England prepares for its final stretch of the 2026 regular season.

Sunday's matchup against the Lions will kick off at 9:30 a.m. ET.