The injury occurred a few moments into the second half at Lumen Field, where Brown had went to catch a pass from Drake Maye. Stuck in double coverage, the 29-year-old landed awkwardly and fell to the ground, immediately clutching his right ankle.
Brown did not return to the game after that, limping off the field after the injury. The Patriots went on to lose when Maye through an interception in the end zone with less than a minute to go.
Reports indicate that Brown is set to miss at least a month with a high ankle sprain, meaning he will not return until October at the earliest. It is an unwanted setback for the Patriots, who reached the Super Bowl last year before falling to the Seahawks.
He is one of two players to have suffered a significant injury in the game, with Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold also leaving the contest earlier on.
Starting his eighth season in the league, Brown joined the Patriots in the offseason after four years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He started a total of 18 games last season, picking up 91 receptions for 1,166 yards and seven touchdowns as they lost in the wildcard round.
He joined the league in 2019 after being drafted in the second round (51st overall) by the Tennessee Titans. After three years with the Titans, he joined the Eagles, where he enjoyed even more success. A Super Bowl champion in 2024, Brown was a Pro Bowl selection in 2020, 2022, and 2023, while also being nominated a second-team All-Pro from 2022 to 2024.
New England are set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders in their next four games.