AJ Brown's High-Ankle Sprain Turns Patriots' Opening Night from Bad to Worse

The New England Patriots managed to score just 10 points in their season-opening loss to the Seahawks, and somehow, that is only the second-worst piece of news for their offense today. Star wide receiver AJ Brown left Thursday night's game with what Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo are reporting as a likely high-ankle sprain.

X-rays came back negative for a fracture, which is the medical equivalent of saying your car is not totaled but the transmission is still sitting on the highway. Brown is scheduled for an MRI today to figure out exactly how many weeks he will be watching from the sideline.

"Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported the injury is believed to be a high-ankle sprain, with X-rays negative for a fracture."

High-ankle sprains are the absolute bane of the modern NFL offense. For a wide receiver who relies on explosive cuts and planting his foot in the ground, this is not a tape-it-up-and-play situation. It is the kind of injury that sends fantasy managers into a panic and forces oddsmakers to aggressively adjust New England's team totals downward.

The Patriots' offense looked completely stuck in the mud during that 13-10 rock fight in Seattle. Taking a premier talent like Brown out of the equation leaves a massive void in a passing game that desperately needs someone to actually get open. You cannot just scheme your way around losing a guy who demands double coverage on every snap.

Now, everyone in New England is holding their breath for the MRI results. If the imaging confirms a severe sprain, the Patriots are going to have to figure out how to move the football with a severely depleted depth chart before their season spirals out of control in September.