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Patriots visit Miami 2-0 in the AFC East as A.J. Brown misses practice

New England (4-3) plays at 1-5 Miami on Sunday with a chance to go 3-0 in the division. A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson both sat out Thursday's practice.

By Sportskeeda NFL Desk / Published October 30, 2026

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  • The Patriots have a clean shot at a 3-0 start in the AFC East on Sunday, and they may have to take it without two of their key skill players at full strength. A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) and TreVeyon Henderson (illness) did not practice Thursday ahead of the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium on CBS.

    Brown's status is the bigger worry. He was limited Wednesday and then sat out Thursday, with a knee issue on top of the high ankle sprain that put him on injured reserve in September. Since returning, he has six catches for 75 yards. Henderson was not on the report at all until Thursday.

    New England is 4-3 and already beat Buffalo and the Jets in the division. It comes off a 30-24 loss at Chicago. Miami is 1-5, and the Patriots swept the series last year, winning 33-27 in Miami and 38-10 in the season finale at Gillette Stadium.

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  • On paper, this is a game New England should win. The Patriots average 375.0 yards per game to Miami's 293.5. The problem is the ball. New England is minus-seven in turnover margin, worse than Miami's minus-three, and that is the kind of number that keeps a 1-5 team in a game into the fourth quarter.

    Rhamondre Stevenson is the one to watch if Henderson cannot go. He has 3,954 career rushing yards, 46 short of becoming the fourth Patriot to reach 4,000, after Sam Cunningham, Jim Nance and Tony Collins. He also had a career-high 93 receiving yards in Chicago, including a 48-yard touchdown from Drake Maye at the end of the first half.

    The offensive line is still patched together. Morgan Moses (foot) and Ben Brown (knee) were limited Thursday, and starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is on IR. Maye practiced fully with his right shoulder listed.

  • For Miami, guard/tackle Kadyn Proctor (concussion) did not practice Thursday. Quarterback Malik Willis was a full participant despite a groin issue.

    Sources checked October 30, 2026.

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