Patriots Place Mack Hollins on Injured Reserve Amid Mounting Injury Crisis

The New England Patriots have suffered another significant blow to their offensive depth, placing veteran wide receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve on Saturday. The move follows a calf injury sustained during the third quarter of last Sunday’s victory over the Buffalo Bills, an incident that saw the receiver forced to leave the field while favoring his right foot.

Hollins had emerged as a primary target for the Patriots this season, currently leading the team with 15 receptions and 209 receiving yards. His absence creates a substantial void in the receiving corps, particularly as the team continues to navigate the recovery of A.J. Brown, who has been sidelined since the season opener with a high-ankle sprain. With Hollins now unavailable, the active roster for Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders will feature only four wide receivers: Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams.

In response to the mounting injuries, the organization has made several roster adjustments. Special teams contributor Brenden Schooler has been activated from the non-football injury list, while cornerback Kindle Vildor has been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. The addition of Vildor was deemed necessary due to the team ruling out four cornerbacks for Sunday’s game, including starters Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III.

Looking ahead to the upcoming contest against the 3-1 Raiders, the Patriots have also elevated linebacker K.J. Britt and rookie safety Elliott Davison from the practice squad to provide additional support, primarily within the special teams unit. While A.J. Brown is eligible to be designated for return from injured reserve as early as next week, the immediate focus for the 2-2 Patriots remains on managing a depleted lineup as they prepare for Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff.