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Patriots list A.J. Brown questionable for Munich game vs. Lions; Henderson, Davis ruled out
A.J. Brown is questionable for the Patriots' game against Detroit in Munich, while TreVeyon Henderson, Carlton Davis and Ben Brown are out.
The New England Patriots could have A.J. Brown back for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions in Munich. The team's final Week 10 injury report lists the wide receiver as questionable with ankle and knee injuries after he was a limited participant in all three practices, CBS Sports reported. The same report rules out three players: running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness), cornerback Carlton Davis III (knee) and center Ben Brown (knee). None of them practiced this week.
This is the first week since Week 7 that Brown carries any designation other than out, according to Yahoo Sports, and he made the trip to Germany with the team. NBC Sports noted that his knee flared up after the Week 7 loss in Chicago, and he has missed the two games since. Its fantasy desk put him on "the optimistic side of questionable" heading into Friday's report.
The list of questionable players runs long. Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) sat out Wednesday but was limited Thursday and Friday. With Henderson out, his status decides how much depth New England has at running back. Safety Kevin Byard (chest) practiced fully on Friday after two limited days, which CBS Sports read as a good sign. Cornerback Charles Woods (hamstring), offensive lineman Greg Van Roten (hamstring), fullback Reggie Gilliam (knee), safety Brenden Schooler (hamstring), lineman Walter Rouse (concussion protocol) and tight end Cameron Latu (back) are also questionable. Davis being out leaves the secondary thinner, and the line is already without its starting center.
Detroit has its own problems. All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee), center Cade Mays (ankle) and cornerback D.J. Reed (hip) are out. Amon-Ra St. Brown (rib) and running back Sione Vaki (ankle) are questionable.
What it means for Sunday in Munich
New England goes to Germany at 5-4 after a 45-27 home loss to Green Bay. That was the most points the defense has allowed this season, and it erased most of the team's cushion: the Patriots have scored 211 points and allowed 207 across nine games. The offense has been uneven. It scored 45 against Las Vegas and 29 in Buffalo, but managed 6 at Jacksonville and 10 at Seattle. Brown missed both of the last two games, the win in Miami and the loss to Green Bay, so his return would give the offense its top receiver back for the first time since the Chicago loss.
Detroit is the designated home team for the 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff on Fox. The board lists the Lions as 2.5-point favorites. Novig, one of 12 venues tracked on this site's game page, has New England +2.5 at +108 and Detroit -2.5 at -111. The best Patriots number anywhere is +3 at -110 at Hard Rock Bet, so the venues are only half a point apart. On the moneyline, Detroit is -138 and New England +135 at Novig.
The total sits at 49.5 on Novig, with the over at -100 and the under at -102. Elsewhere it ranges from 49 at Pinnacle to 50.5 at BetRivers. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.0% to 5.4% on the spread. A final call on Brown and Stevenson is still to come, and either one could move those numbers before kickoff.