Lead: The New England Patriots activated starting wide receiver Mack Hollins from injured reserve on Saturday in Denver, a day before the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, CBS). Hollins, who went on IR Dec. 27 with an abdominal injury, had been designated to return Thursday and practiced for the first time that week. Before the injury he had started 13 games and ranked third on the team with 46 receptions and 550 receiving yards. The move restores a veteran target for quarterback Drake Maye and alters New England’s roster ahead of the road title tilt.
Key Takeaways
- Mack Hollins was activated from injured reserve on Jan. 24, 2026, ahead of the AFC Championship Game vs. the Denver Broncos (3 p.m. ET, CBS).
- Hollins landed on IR on Dec. 27, 2025, with an abdomen injury and had been designated to return on Thursday before practicing that week.
- Through 13 starts prior to the injury, Hollins had 46 catches for 550 yards and had played 68% of New England’s offensive snaps — the highest snap share among Patriots receivers at the time.
- At 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Hollins offers a large catch radius for in-breaking routes and is noted by coaches for his run-blocking impact.
- He joins Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte atop the Patriots’ receiver depth chart; DeMario “Pop” Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III provide additional depth.
- To open a 53-man roster spot, New England placed rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory on injured reserve with a knee ailment and elevated Leonard Taylor III and running back D’Ernest Johnson from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Background
The Patriots reached the AFC Championship with an offense that relied on a mix of veteran targets and emerging pieces. Mack Hollins became a consistent starter this season, playing a team-high share of receiver snaps before his Dec. 27 abdominal injury removed him from the lineup. The designation to return mechanism allowed the team to evaluate his recovery while preserving roster flexibility during the stretch run.
New England’s passing game has centered on a top-down structure with Stefon Diggs as the No. 1 option and supporting roles handled by Hollins and younger receivers such as Kayshon Boutte. Hollins’ combination of size and blocking ability has made him particularly valuable on intermediate and contested targets, and coaches have frequently cited his leadership and work ethic in the locker room.
Main Event
The activation came after Hollins completed his first full practice since being placed on injured reserve. Team officials executed the roster adjustment Saturday to clear a spot on the 53-man roster, moving rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory to injured reserve with a knee issue. The Patriots simultaneously elevated defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III and running back D’Ernest Johnson from the practice squad for the AFC title game.
Hollins’ immediate return to the active roster changes the available receiving packages for offensive coordinator play-calling against Denver. His ability to win on in-breaking routes gives quarterback Drake Maye an additional downfield and red-zone target, and his blocking contributes to the run-game schematics New England deploys.
Coaches emphasized Hollins’ intangibles in practice reports: his physical frame, catch radius and on-field energy. Those traits, combined with his season production (46 receptions, 550 yards), make him a meaningful addition to the game-day roster even after an extended absence.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, Hollins’ activation alters matchup considerations for the Broncos’ secondary. His size (6-foot-4, 221 pounds) creates a challenge on intermediate in-breaking routes and settles coverage windows for Maye, potentially opening opportunities for other receivers and the running game. Defensive coordinators will need to account for Hollins without overcommitting safety help, which could free single coverage opportunities for other playmakers.
From a personnel standpoint, Hollins’ return also affects snap-distribution decisions. The Patriots will weigh his health and conditioning before assigning a full workload; an immediate heavy snap count would risk re-aggravation, while a limited but situational role could maximize his impact. That uncertainty complicates pre-game game-planning for both sides.
Financially and roster-wise, the move required a corresponding roster displacement: rookie DT Eric Gregory was placed on IR with a knee ailment, preserving the Patriots’ ability to carry depth on the defensive line via practice-squad elevations. The short-term elevations of Leonard Taylor III and D’Ernest Johnson indicate the team’s desire to maintain rotation options on both defense and special teams for a high-stakes road game.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Mack Hollins (2025 season) |
|---|---|
| Starts | 13 |
| Receptions | 46 |
| Receiving yards | 550 |
| Offensive snap share (when injured) | 68% |
| IR placement | Dec. 27, 2025 |
| Activation | Jan. 24, 2026 |
The table above summarizes Hollins’ season output and the timeline of his injured reserve stint. Those figures show he was a primary piece of New England’s passing structure before the abdomen injury and that his availability returns at a decisive playoff moment.
Reactions & Quotes
“He has an energy to him. I’ve always appreciated his willingness to learn what we’re doing but also be a leader for some of the younger guys.”
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots head coach
“The team placed rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory on injured reserve and elevated Leonard Taylor III and running back D’Ernest Johnson for Sunday’s game.”
New England Patriots (team transaction announcement)
Unconfirmed
- Hollins’ exact snap count for the AFC Championship Game has not been confirmed and will depend on in-game medical clearance and coaching decisions.
- Any lingering limitation from Hollins’ abdominal injury (specific pain-management measures or play-type restrictions) has not been publicly detailed by the team.
Bottom Line
Mack Hollins’ activation restores a proven, physical receiving option for the Patriots ahead of a pivotal AFC Championship Game in Denver. His combination of size, route-running on in-breakers and run-blocking utility provides both immediate matchup advantages and schematic flexibility for Drake Maye and New England’s offense.
How much Hollins ultimately influences the outcome will hinge on his snap allocation and whether the Patriots deploy him in high-leverage situations. For now, the roster move signals New England’s intent to return a veteran contributor to the postseason rotation and preserves strategic options for a single-elimination road game.