New England Patriots receiver A.J. Brown has been sidelined for many games this season, dealing with an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve, followed by a knee issue. He returned to practice for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday, and traveled with the team to Germany.

So, is the receiver going to play against the Lions?

Inactives don't come out until 8 a.m. ET, which is when an official decision will be released on Brown, who is currently questionable to play in the game. But here are the reasons why it does and doesn't make sense for him to play.

Should the Patriots play A.J. Brown?

After listing Brown as questionable, NFL insider Ian Rapoport said on Friday that the receiver had a "good chance to play." And that's certainly very good news for Drake Maye and the offense, as the team has been dealing with numerous injuries at the receiver position and could use all the help they can get.

Brown has yet to have a true standout game, but it's certainly coming as his connection with Maye flashed over the summer. Now, they just have to do so during a game.

Why shouldn't the Patriots play A.J. Brown?

There's a lot to talk about: the Patriots rushed Brown back from his high ankle sprain, activating him in his first week of eligibility from injured reserve. As a result, he has missed six of the team's nine games and was ruled out against the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers with a knee injury.

He returned to practice for the first time this past Wednesday, having been limited all three days. But with the bye week next, it makes sense that the Patriots would want to get him back out there with the team to practice. But, playing in the game is a different story and opens him up to further injury, especially if both the ankle and knee have not fully healed.

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