Social media placed the squarely on Drake Maye’s shoulders for AJ Brown’s injury in Week 1.
The New England Patriots opened up the 2026 season on Wednesday against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. In the third quarter at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash., New England had a 3rd-and-4 play where Maye attempted to connect with Brown off a quick slant route.
Maye’s pass was underthrown however, resulting into Brown having to go to the ground to try to catch it. The pass ultimately fell incomplete, and Brown paid the price by getting his ankle rolled up on by Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett.
INJURY ALERT: Here is the 3rdQ play #Patriots WR AJ Brown got hurt on and was seen grabbing his lower leg/ ankle area after. pic.twitter.com/PR2tK0Zkh3
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 10, 2026
Here is a closer angle of Brown’s injury.
AJ Brown appears to be down with an ankle injury pic.twitter.com/jrHAzo5SyZ
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 10, 2026
Fans all promptly pointed the finger at Maye for the underthrow. Many believed that Brown would have been able to stay upright if that pass from Maye had simply been on the money.
Maye just killed AJ brown throwing a grilled cheese with turf sauce on the side
— Monta. (@Monta_1of1) September 10, 2026
Drake maye is so bad at football he just killed aj brown
— Mr Brightside (@MrBrightside457) September 10, 2026
Drake maye with a ham sandwich to get AJ brown hurt
— jalen hurts hater (@Bendenfl) September 10, 2026
If Drake maye doesn’t throw a ham sandwich aj brown doesn’t have to bend down and get rolled up on pic.twitter.com/A9alLgzvTk
— John (@iam_johnw) September 10, 2026
Maye also struggled at other points in the game to develop chemistry with Brown. In the second quarter, Maye underthrew Brown on a surefire deep touchdown ball (though Brown was able to successfully draw a pass intereference penalty on the play, resulting in an eventual Patriots touchdown).
Drake Maye just UNDERTHREW AJ Brown on a TD
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) September 10, 2026
HE ABOUT TO ASK FOR A TRADE pic.twitter.com/JIWGnIogfS
The Patriots later announced that Brown, their three-time All-Pro offseason trade addition, was questionable to return with an ankle injury. Wednesday’s season opener was absolutely brutal for injuries to big-name players as Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold also got hurt just three minutes into the game.
