What happened: Brown departed Sunday's contest after suffering a hamstring injury early in his return. The team ruled him out as Detroit closed out a 35-10 victory.

Why it matters: The setback interrupts New England's offensive plans after the franchise moved to activate A.J. Brown for the Lions game. Without their primary perimeter target, the Patriots struggled to generate rhythm while falling behind Detroit.

What to watch: New England will evaluate Brown's status during upcoming team medical checks. The Patriots will determine his practice availability ahead of their next contest.