Leonard Taylor (DT)

As the Patriots prepare to make a playoff run to cap off their surprising one-year turnaround under new head coach Mike Vrabel, they will be doing so without their second-leading wide receiver. The team announced today that Mack Hollins has been placed on injured reserve as he deals with an injury to his abdomen.

Hollins has been a true journeyman since getting drafted to the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After winning a Super Bowl ring as little-used rookie in Philadelphia, Hollins spent his sophomore campaign on IR with a groin injury. In Year 3, an Eagles reunion with veteran DeSean Jackson led to the team waiving Hollins.

Hollins was claimed by the Dolphins, and he spent the remainder of that year and the next two seasons in Miami. While he never broke out as a high-volume pass catcher, he showed some strong redzone capabilities with four touchdown catches in 2021. The next year, on a one-year deal with the Raiders, Hollins broke out as a formidable WR2 behind Davante Adams, recording 57 receptions for 690 yards and four more touchdowns.

Despite the career-best campaign, Hollins continued to land one-year deals and delivered average seasons with the Falcons and Bills, though he did log a career-high five touchdowns in Buffalo. Those five scores may have just been enough for Hollins to be offered a two-year contract this past offseason in New England, where he has once again broken out at 32 years old as the team’s second-leading wide receiver behind Stefon Diggs. Hollins collected 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games with the Patriots this year.

The team’s receiving corps may be even more shorthanded for its divisional trip to New York. Third-leading receiver Kayshon Boutte has been ruled out for the week with a concussion, and WR4 DeMario Douglas is listed as questionable after a hamstring issue held him to limited participation in practice this week. When they face off against the Jets tomorrow, Maye’s receivers beyond Diggs could be whittled down to third-round rookie Kyle Williams and undrafted rookie return man Efton Chism III.

With only two games remaining in the regular season, Mack will be forced to miss the Patriots’ first two playoff games before he will be eligible to return. In the meantime, New England will need to focus on getting Boutte and Douglas in shape for the postseason, knowing they’ll be relied on for, at least, the team’s first playoff matchup.

Taking Hollins’ spot on the 53-man roster will be defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., while fellow practice squad interior defender Leonard Taylor III and cornerback Kobee Minor will be designated as standard gameday elevations. This will be Minor’s third and final elevation on this practice squad deal. If the Patriots want to see him appear in another game this season, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster like Pharms.