Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel sidesteps questions about wideout A.J. Brown’s knee as the team prepares for its Week 8 showdown with Miami. Brown, returning from a high‑ankle sprain, has seen just eight quarters of action and four practices this season, tallying nine catches for 101 yards. A recent flare‑up left him unable to finish Wednesday’s practice, and his status remains “questionable” alongside RB TreVeyon Henderson and LB Christian Elliss. Vrabel says the focus is on today’s game, with a final decision expected after Saturday’s medical evaluation.
The NFL pulls referee Alex Moore’s crew from the prime‑time Eagles‑Commanders game after their contentious performance in the Packers‑Lions matchup, where Green Bay lost 20‑17 amid two roughing‑the‑passer penalties and other disputed calls. Moore’s unit is reassigned to the Patriots‑Dolphins game, while Shawn Hochuli’s crew will handle Sunday night. Fans erupted on social media, accusing the league of fixing games and labeling Moore the "worst ref". According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, the move is driven by optics rather than discipline, keeping the crew out of NBC’s national broadcast viewership.
The Miami Dolphins made a quick waiver claim on Friday and released a veteran to make room on the roster.
Dolphins rookie QB Malik Willis celebrates the team’s first win of a 1‑5 season, emphasizing the need to keep improving and stay focused on the next game. The Jets, according to Albert Breer, field significant interest in DE Will McDonald IV but deny any trade talks for WR Garrett Wilson, while confirming they’ll retain their coaching staff. Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown, back from a high‑ankle sprain, says he’s regaining explosiveness and is focused on competing in New England’s offense after two games on the roster.
The Miami Dolphins may not be too involved at the trade deadline, but one national insider slams the door on two veteran trade options.
The Miami Dolphins, fresh off a 28-25 Week 7 win over the New York Jets, reshuffle their pass rush for Week 8 against the New England Patriots by claiming former Chicago Bears edge Jamree Kromah off waivers and waiving rookie Rob Beal Jr. Kromah, a 6‑foot‑4, 268‑lb former Rutgers and James Madison standout, adds depth to a defense led by rising star Sean Duggan. The move comes as the Dolphins look to bolster a unit that allowed 25 points to the Jets, while Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looms as a new test.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel admits he feels no entitlement to keep his job after the team’s 0‑6 start. Despite an average of just 15 points per game, a –0.190 EPA per play and 15 turnovers, head coach Jim Harbaugh confirms McDaniel will stay as play‑caller post‑bye week. The article details the Chargers’ offensive woes: Justin Herbert’s 1,141 passing yards, five TDs, eight INTs, and 21 sacks, while running back Omarion Hampton leads with 289 yards. McDaniel, a former Miami Dolphins head coach, acknowledges the pressure and vows to improve.
The Patriots list three key players as questionable for Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET clash with the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Wide receiver A.J. Brown, the former three‑time All‑Pro, missed consecutive practices due to a flare‑up of a knee issue and a lingering high‑ankle sprain that landed him on IR in September; he’s played 101 of 122 snaps since returning and has six catches for 75 yards. Running back TreVeyon Henderson sits out with an illness, while linebacker Christian Elliss is doubtful after a chest injury. Coach Mike Vrabel says final decisions will be made after tomorrow’s practice.
The Patriots head into Week 8 against Miami facing questionable status for two key offensive weapons. Veteran receiver A.J. Brown missed Thursday’s practice with knee and ankle issues and was absent from Friday’s media session, leaving his Week 8 availability in doubt after a hampered start to his 2026 campaign (9 catches for 101 yards). Running back TreVeyon Henderson sat out Friday due to illness, and his production has slumped to 52 carries for 203 yards and one touchdown this season, sparking trade rumors. Despite these setbacks, New England, now 4‑3, still has a chance to close the gap on Buffalo as they clash with the Dolphins on Nov. 1 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
The Miami Dolphins have found their offensive identity, largely thanks to a physical offensive line. They may be without a key piece this week, however.
Week 8 fantasy managers get two underrated backs worth targeting: Miami’s Ollie Gordon II, who’s racked up 25 carries for 103 yards and a TD this week and has scored in each of his last four games, and Tennessee’s Tony Pollard, fresh off a career‑high 129 yards and three touchdowns against Cleveland. Both are poised for solid roles against the Patriots and Bengals respectively. Risky plays include Cleveland’s Quinshon Judkins, who bounced back with 96 yards and two TDs but now faces the Steelers’ top‑rated rush defense, and Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving, who posted 110 yards and two scores versus the Panthers but meets a strong Falcons rush front. Consider these picks before setting your Week 8 lineups.
Here are the latest injury updates on New England Patriots receiver A.J. Brown ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel gives a brief, non‑committal update on star WR A.J. Brown ahead of the Week 8 clash with the Miami Dolphins. Vrabel labels Brown “questionable” after knee and ankle issues, and the player was absent from Friday’s media‑access practice. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels stresses Brown’s health is crucial to the offense’s improvement, noting the receiver has logged just eight quarters in two months. Brown currently has nine catches for 101 yards in three games, leaving his Sunday status uncertain.
A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson are both questionable for the Patriots' Week 8 matchup with the Dolphins as New England deals with several injury concerns.
A curt (presser lasted four minutes) and subdued Mike Vrabel said Friday that A.J. Brown will be questionable for the Dolphins game with ankle and knee injuries that kept him out of practice the last two days.
Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some of the most common Week 8 fantasy football lineup decisions involve […]
The Patriots gear up for a crucial Week 8 showdown with the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. The preview covers updated injury reports—including A.J. Brown’s lingering knee issue and the return of Christian Barmore—while highlighting quarterback Drake Maye’s scramble skill and his chemistry with the tight ends. Analysts Evan Lazar and Mike Dussault break down the game plan, and experts from Pats Pulpit predict a Patriots win, with most national picks favoring New England. The piece also features exclusive video interviews with coach Josh McDaniels and players like Christian Elliss, plus a deep dive into trade‑deadline targets and the impact of referee Alex Moore’s crew change.
Malik Willis' growth came after his time with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, making their connection a poor predictor of Sunday's Miami Dolphins-Patriots matchup.
Games against the Dolphins in Miami are never easy for the Patriots, but there's one reason it should be this time around.
The Miami Dolphins have turned down trade offers for defensive tackle Zach Sieler and center Aaron Brewer, emphasizing their roles as leaders alongside linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Both players have secured hefty extensions—Sieler’s latest three-year, $67.75 million deal in 2025 and Brewer’s recent three-year, $21 million pact for 2024‑26—while logging solid 2026 contributions (Sieler: 17 tackles, 2 sacks; Brewer: six starts). Though the front office rebuffed interest, right tackle Austin Jackson may still attract suitors as the deadline approaches.
The Phinsider outlines three reasons the Miami Dolphins can still beat the New England Patriots despite the Patriots’ recent Super Bowl run. First, Joe Robbie Hard Rock Stadium is historically a nightmare for New England, with the Pats winning just 18 of 61 games in Miami—a 0.295 win rate that has held steady even since the Belichick‑Brady era. Second, Miami’s offense has found its stride, posting 377 yards (5.5 YPP) against the Jets and leaning on a hot run game led by Ollie Gordon II and emerging quarterback Malik Willis, who is close to breaking the franchise QB rushing record. Third, the Patriots’ pass rush is vulnerable, ranking 20th in yards per attempt and low in quarterback pressures, giving the Dolphins a potential edge in the upcoming matchup.
The Miami Dolphins add former Texas guard DJ Campbell (23) to their practice squad, releasing OT Gottlieb Ayedze in the swap. Drafted 200th overall in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Campbell signed a four-year, $4.65 million rookie contract with a $272,636 signing bonus and a base salary of $885,000 before being cut a few days later. He logged 42 starts in 48 college games at Texas, offering depth to Miami’s offensive line.
Running back Ollie Gordon II, who stepped into a lead role after De’Von Achane’s injury, praises first‑year Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley for actively engaging with players in meetings and on both sides of the ball. On the "Set with Terron Armstead" podcast, Gordon compares Hafley’s hands‑on approach to former coach Mike McDaniel’s style and shares three "welcome to the NFL" moments: sharing the field with linebacker Bobby Wagner, a heated locker‑room exchange with running‑back coach Eric Studesville after a slip, and a bone‑crushing hit from Bills defensive end Joey Bosa that revived memories of his first touchdown. The interview offers insight into the Dolphins’ cultural reset after an 0‑5 start and a recent win over the Jets.
The New England Patriots shouldn't find much trouble beating the Miami Dolphins, especially given how well Mike Vrabel knows Malik Willis.
The Patriots face the Dolphins in Week 8 under notably cooler conditions than their Week 3 loss in Florida, with Hard Rock Stadium temps topping only 78°F (National Weather Service forecasts near 82°F). However, an 80% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms, plus wind gusts up to 26 mph, could still affect play. Coach Mike Vrabel emphasizes conditioning and rotating receivers, backs, edge rushers, and defensive linemen to stay fresh. The game kicks off Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.