According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Patriots are practicing as if WR Antonio Brown is going to play on Sunday, unless the NFL steps in and prevents this from happening in the coming days.
Brown has practiced each of the past two days and Rapoport has received no indication as of now that something will prevent him from suiting up in Week 2.
Rapoport says it’s still possible New England could hold him out if they feel he isn’t ready to contribute, but no one has ruled out Brown playing this weekend.
The alleged victim in the sexual assault and rape case against Brown plans to meet with NFL investigators and a meeting will likely take place next week.
The NFL could place Brown on the commissioner exempt list, but Rapoport explained yesterday that this would be an unprecedented move for a player facing a civil lawsuit and not a criminal case.
Rapoport has been told that neither the Patriots nor the NFL knew about this situation before Brown signed with New England.
Brown, 31, is a former sixth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2010. He was in the third year of his five-year, $72.71 million contract when the Steelers traded him to the Raiders back in March.
The Raiders later signed Brown to a new contract worth $50.125 million and includes $30.125 million guaranteed. However, Oakland made the decision to release Brown on Saturday, making him an unrestricted free agent and he later signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with the Patriots.
In 2018, Brown appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and caught 104 passes for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 26 receiver out of 117 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding Brown as the news is available.
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