Brown (hamstring) missed practice Thursday, the Boston Globe reports.
With Brown, Dion Lewis, D.J. Foster and Brandon Bolden all absent Thursday, Tyler Gaffney and James White saw added practice reps. Once Brown returns to the field, he'll look to secure a role in the Patriots' backfield. Assuming he sticks with the team, what said role might be rests largely on the health/performance of returnees LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis, who are both bouncing back from injuries.