Trent

Brown

Brown on Monday night against the Commanders suffered a serious knee injury and was carted to the locker room. The injury will require surgery and sideline Brown for the remainder of the 2024 season. It’s a big blow to a Bengals offensive line graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s 16th best pass blocking unit and seventh worst run blocking unit.

Brown’s knee appeared to give out while in pass protection and the cart was brought out to escort the veteran tackle to the locker room. Based on video and the fact he had to be carted off, it appears likely the Bengals will be without the 10-year veteran right tackle for some time.

OL Trent Brown and Tee Higgins are also absent from the voluntary offseason practices. Probably it’s not a big deal that Chase, 24, entering his fourth NFL season, is not in attendance, though it is something to monitor in the summer months. The Bengals in April picked up Chase’s fifth-year option; he’s now signed through the 2025 season, slated to make a guaranteed salary of nearly $5 million this season. The superstar wideout is likely to show up to summer practices if and when the team can hammer out a lucrative long-term deal with him.

Brown has found a new home in protecting Joe Burrow. The tackle moves to Cincinnati after spending three straight seasons with the Patriots. Brown started eight games for New England in 2023 and looks to provide the Bengals with more stabilization along the offensive line.

The Bengals again find themselves in need of veteran help along their offensive line after Jonah Williams departed for Arizona earlier this offseason. Brown played the last three seasons in New England, starting 33 games across 37 appearances for the Patriots. The nine-year veteran tackle has performed extremely well when healthy throughout his career but has also struggled to stay on the field, playing more than 11 games just once in the previous five seasons.

The Patriots will take a $2 million cap hit into 2024 as a result of Brown hitting free agency. Brown, who was a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2015, has appeared in 100 games during his career and has spent the last three seasons with the Patriots. He started in 8-of-11 games this season and was limited by an ankle injury during the season. According to Patriots beat writer Taylor Kyles reports, “some in the [Patriots’] building weren’t thrilled with [Brown’s] effort late last season,” but he still has the support of some teammates and coaches. While a reunion could be possible, Brown will be free to sign with any team when free agency opens next month.

Brown missed Week 11 because of the ankle issue but was also listed as out because of a personal issue. It’s unclear what that means, but it was removed from his Week 12 report. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and cornerback Jonathan Jones were also listed as questionable.

The veteran missed Week 11 with what was marked as “personal/ankle” suggesting that the injured ankle is only part of the reason for his absence. His presence at practice in some capacity on Wednesday is a good sign, but his status remains murky. Also limited in practice for the Patriots on Wednesday were CB Jonathan Jones (knee), CB Myles Bryant (chest), DL Christian Barmore (knee), and LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring).

Parker will miss his second-straight game with a concussion after not joining the team on the flight to Germany. As far as Parker goes, fantasy managers won’t feel the impact of his absence beyond knowing it means more playing time for Jalen Reagor and Demario Douglas. In addition to Parker, the Patriots also ruled out offensive tackle Trent Brown (personal/ankle) and cornerback J.C. Jackson (personal).

Brown was listed on Wednesday’s injury report as being out due personal/ankle related issues, although ESPN’s Mike Reiss said on Thursday Brown missed “due to personal reasons.” We’ll see what capacity Brown practices in when Thursday’s report drops, but it sounds like he’ll be ready to go against the Colts in their Week 10 matchup.