The Patriots are placing Brown (ankle) on injured reserve, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
It apparently took less than 48 hours for the Patriots to decide that Brown will be out for at least four games. The earliest he can return is Week 6, but the quick move to IR suggests he may not be ready by then. Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas took most of the WR snaps after Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain in Wednesday's loss at Seattle.