New England Patriots Tackle Added to Injury Report Ahead of TNF

The New England Patriots made a surprise last-minute addition to their injury report ahead of their pivotal Thursday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills, and it was a big one. Starting left tackle Trent Brown has come down with an illness and is now questionable for tonight's game.

Patriots injury report update: OT Trent Brown (illness) is questionable.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 1, 2022

With Brown's status suddenly in doubt, the Patriots could be alarmingly shorthanded at tackle when they face the Bills. Fellow starter Isaiah Wynn has already been declared out with a foot injury, and top reserve Yodny Cajuste is questionable after logging limited practices all week with a calf injury. The Bills defense has allowed the fifth-fewest points in the league and has forced the second-most takeaways.

Quarterback Mac Jones is coming off perhaps the game of his life in a Week 12 33-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but if recent history is any indication, he'll need all the help he can get against the Bills. Jones lost two of his three matches against his AFC East rivals last year with his only win coming in the midst of a windstorm in which he only completed two passes for 13 yards. The Patriots were outscored 80-38 in their other two matchups.

Brown rejoined the Patriots in 2021 via trade with Las Vegas Raiders. He earned a Pro Bowl with the Raiders in 2019 and won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2018. Listed at a mountainous 6-8, 380 pounds, Brown is an overwhelming presence on the field and a consistently solid blocker in both phases. He earned a career-high 79.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus on his 489 snaps last year.