Lead: The New England Patriots made multiple roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 17 meeting with the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The team placed starting wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) on injured reserve and signed defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to the 53-man roster. Defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III and defensive back Kobee Minor were elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff. With seven players already ruled out, New England is reshuffling ahead of the regular-season finale and possible postseason games.
Key Takeaways
- Mack Hollins was placed on injured reserve (abdomen) and will miss at least four games, making him eligible to return only in the postseason; he has 657 snaps, 46 receptions and 550 receiving yards this season.
- The Patriots signed DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster and also elevated DL Leonard Taylor III and DB Kobee Minor for Sunday’s game.
- Two defensive tackles — Khyiris Tonga (foot) and Milton Williams (ankle) — were already ruled out, prompting the DT additions to restore depth on the interior defensive line.
- Kobee Minor’s elevation is his third and final standard elevation of the regular season; practice-squad elevation rules reset in the postseason.
- The team did not elevate a wide receiver despite ruling out Hollins and Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and listing DeMario Douglas (hamstring) as questionable, signaling Douglas may be available for activation.
- Rhamondre Stevenson and D’Ernest Johnson remain the projected primary backs; rookie TreVeyon Henderson is in concussion protocol but practiced fully on Friday.
- The Patriots generally activate five defensive tackles on game day; adding Pharms and Taylor helps return them to that typical number alongside Christian Barmore, Cory Durden and Eric Gregory.
Background
The Patriots enter Week 17 with a heavy injury tree that has forced late-week roster adjustments. New England has already listed seven players out for Sunday’s matchup; that tally includes primary contributors on both offense and defense. Placing a starter on injured reserve in mid-December complicates short-term game planning because NFL IR carries a minimum four-game absence, though players can be designated to return once eligible in the postseason.
Mack Hollins has been a consistent, physical presence since joining the Patriots, deployed as a downfield target and as a blocker in run schemes. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has praised Hollins’ versatility, noting how his 6-4, 220-pound frame creates matchup advantages on the wing and in two-tight-end formations. New England’s receiving room has been constructed around Stefon Diggs as the clear alpha, but depth pieces such as Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III have been important in subpackages.
Main Event
On Saturday the team announced Hollins’ move to injured reserve and the promotion of interior defensive reinforcements. Hollins’ placement to IR stems from an abdomen injury that will sideline him for at least the next four games; the club’s timetable allows a postseason return if New England advances. To compensate on the defensive front, the Patriots signed DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to the 53-man roster and elevated Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad.
With Khyiris Tonga (foot) and Milton Williams (ankle) already unavailable, the Patriots’ interior had shrunk in depth; Tonga’s foot issue was described as a one-to-two week injury sustained in last week’s win over the Ravens. Williams began his 21-day return-to-practice window on Tuesday after recovering from an ankle ailment but was not activated this week as the team preferred a conservative ramp-up.
On the back end, cornerback Kobee Minor earned another game elevation; the seventh-round rookie is typically used on special teams and this marks his third standard elevation of the regular season. The team did not add a receiver to the gameday roster despite Hollins and Boutte ruled out and Douglas limited, a choice that suggests the staff expects Douglas to be available or prefers tight-end packages to replace Hollins’ versatility.
Analysis & Implications
Hollins’ absence removes a heavyweight, multi-role weapon from the offense. He leads the Patriots in snaps (657) and ranks third in receptions (46) and receiving yards (550), demonstrating both durability and production when on the field. Offensive game-planning will likely shift toward exploiting tight-end matchups and rotating smaller, quicker receivers; Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper’s complementary skill sets will be leaned on to replicate some of Hollins’ blocking and seam-stretching responsibilities.
The defensive-line moves are primarily about preserving rotational integrity. Adding Pharms Jr. to the active roster and elevating Taylor restores the typical five-DT game-day complement alongside Christian Barmore, Cory Durden and Eric Gregory. Those depth moves matter more with Tonga out short term and Williams still being eased back in, as interior pressure and run-stopping assignments are shared heavily across snaps late in the season.
Special-teams and situational usage will also factor into the Patriots’ short-term strategy. Minor’s special-teams role is part of why he received his third elevation; such players often absorb returns from injuries elsewhere on the roster. The decision not to elevate a wide receiver from the practice squad suggests coaches trust in their current active receivers and tight ends to cover two games, or believe upcoming postseason roster resets will allow additional roster flexibility.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Role | Key 2025 Regular-Season Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Mack Hollins | WR / blocker | 657 snaps, 46 catches, 550 yards |
| Kobee Minor | CB / ST | Third standard elevation (rookie) |
| Jeremiah Pharms Jr. | DT | Signed from practice squad to 53-man roster |
| Leonard Taylor III | DL | Elevated for game-day depth |
This snapshot shows how the Patriots redistributed roster roles: a top snap leader at receiver is now on IR, while interior defensive depth was restored via practice-squad promotions. Those moves reflect immediate needs—maintaining snap rotations inside and protecting special-teams coverage—rather than long-term roster signalling.
Reactions & Quotes
“Just trying to get back into it. I think he’s working hard… it’s good to see him out there with the team. That’s just the first step of it.”
Mike Vrabel, head coach (on Milton Williams’ return-to-practice window)
Vrabel’s comments framed the club’s conservative approach to activating Williams even after practice appearances, emphasizing caution late in the season.
“He’s a chess piece.”
Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (on Mack Hollins’ role)
McDaniels’ characterization underlines why Hollins’ absence matters beyond catches and yards — his blocking and alignment versatility influence formations and play-design.
Unconfirmed
- The exact timetable for Khyiris Tonga’s full return (beyond the reported one-to-two week estimate) has not been officially confirmed by the team.
- Milton Williams’ availability for the first postseason game remains unclear; the club has not announced a target activation date despite his return to practice.
- DeMario Douglas’ status for Sunday was listed as questionable but the team has not provided a final availability report at the time of this writing.
Bottom Line
Mack Hollins’ move to injured reserve is a tangible short-term loss: he’s a snap leader and versatile matchup weapon whose absence forces schematic adjustments. Expect New England to use tighter personnel packages and lean more on Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper for both blocking and intermediate-downfield threats while rotating receivers to fill vertical roles.
On defense the additions of Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Leonard Taylor III are pragmatic restorations of depth after multiple injuries on the interior. Those moves should help maintain standard snap distributions among defensive tackles and keep the unit functional through the season’s final games and, potentially, into the playoffs.
With two regular-season games remaining and postseason eligibility still on the line, how the Patriots manage minutes, special teams and practice-squad resources over the next weeks will determine whether these short-term changes become temporary fixes or the start of a different late-season identity.