Brown’s illness first was noted after the Patriots’ Week 11 win over the New York Jets, the only game this season he did not start. Head coach Bill Belichick said keeping him out of the starting lineup was a “coaching decision,” but Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reported it was because Brown was sick. He eventually replaced an injured Wynn and played 43 offensive snaps in a 10-3 Patriots victory.
Two weeks later, Brown was added to the Patriots’ injury report with an illness hours before the team’s Thursday night matchup with the Buffalo Bills.