The worst-case scenario has come true for the Patriots ahead of their matchup against the Dolphins

Two Offensive Weapons Out for Miami

The New England Patriots will have to do without two key offensive players on Sunday for their divisional matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back TreVeon Henderson have been ruled out.

Brown is sidelined due to ankle and knee injuries. Henderson, meanwhile, is ill. Both players were listed as questionable heading into the weekend, but the team ultimately confirmed they would not play.

As reported by theScore, A.J. Brown's season has been very disappointing so far. The star wide receiver has played in only three games, during which he caught nine passes for 101 yards. His knee issue flared up again this week, which had already cast doubt on his participation.

A Trade That Hasn't Paid Off Yet

Yet the Patriots paid a hefty price to acquire him. In June, they traded a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to land the star wide receiver. So far, that investment has not yielded the hoped-for results.

The situation is just as difficult for TreVeon Henderson. The 24-year-old running back had a standout season last year, with 911 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. However, he's struggling to regain that momentum in 2026. In six games, he has rushed for 203 yards on 52 carries and scored just one touchdown.

Despite these absences, the Patriots will enter the game as favorites against the Dolphins. With a 4-3 record, New England sits in second place in the AFC East. Miami, meanwhile, is in last place with a 1-5 record.

The depth of the Patriots' offensive lineup will, however, be put to the test. Other receivers and running backs will have to step up to support quarterback Drake Maye, who will need to find new targets in Brown's absence.

A win would keep the Patriots in the running for first place in their division as the season approaches the halfway mark. For the team, the challenge will also be to get Brown back healthy for the second half of the season, as that's when he could finally justify the price paid to acquire him.

The trade deadline, set for November 10, is also approaching. The Patriots will have to decide whether to add reinforcements on offense or rely on the return of their injured players.

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