The New England Patriots activated veteran wide receiver Mack Hollins from injured reserve on Saturday, a move that gives their playoff offense a timely shot in the arm just hours before kickoff in a crucial postseason clash. Along with bringing Hollins back to the 53-man roster, the team placed rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory on injured reserve and elevated running back D’Ernest Johnson and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad.
It’s the kind of roster juggling every team does this time of year, but for the Patriots, getting Hollins healthy again feels huge. The 32-year-old has been one of the steadiest presences in a young receiving group all season. Before going down with an abdomen injury back in late December, he’d started 13 games, hauling in 46 catches for 550 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
More than the numbers, though, Hollins brings that veteran savvy and physicality that quarterback Drake Maye has leaned on, especially on those deep crossing routes where his catch radius shines.
Mike Vrabel didn’t hide his admiration for the guy earlier in the week, calling him a leader who sets the tone for the younger wideouts. Hollins has that quirky energy too – remember him showing up to games barefoot? – but on the field, he’s all business.
Blocking in the run game, stretching defenses vertically, making the tough catches. The offense has missed that edge during the playoffs so far. Now, with him cleared to play, expect Maye to look his way early and often.
The corresponding moves tell their own story. Eric Gregory, a rookie defensive tackle who’d been contributing in rotation along the interior line, heads to injured reserve. Details on his injury are sparse – the team just called it a “complete phantom injury” in one announcement, which sounds like one of those vague designations clubs use late in the year.
Whatever it is, it ends his promising first season prematurely. Gregory had flashed some upside in limited snaps, but the depth chart takes a hit here.
To fill the gaps, New England turned to familiar practice-squad names. D’Ernest Johnson gets another elevation at running back, where he’s been a reliable backup behind Rhamondre Stevenson all year. The veteran has popped in spot duty, giving the ground game a change-of-pace option and chipping in on special teams. He’s the kind of depth piece you need in January when legs get heavy.
On the defensive line, Leonard Taylor III comes up again. The undrafted youngster out of Miami has already seen action in the postseason, showing quickness off the snap and some disruptive potential.
Pairing him with Christian Barmore and the rest of the front gives Vrabel more bodies to rotate against a physical opponent. Taylor’s been a pleasant surprise since joining the practice squad – these elevations could earn him a longer look next offseason.
These tweaks come at a pivotal moment. The Patriots have defied a lot of preseason expectations to reach this stage, riding Maye’s development and a stingy defense to deep playoff territory. But every week the margins get thinner. Opponents scout better, hit harder, and leave no room for error.
Getting a starter like Hollins back healthy? That’s the kind of break contending teams dream about. Losing a young contributor like Gregory stings, yet the elevations show how deep this roster has become under Vrabel’s rebuild.
Fans in Foxboro – and the ones bundled up in living rooms across New England – will be watching closely when Hollins trots out for warmups. If he’s moving well, if he’s got that burst, it could swing the momentum in a game that feels wide open.
Playoff football is unforgiving, but moves like this are why teams fight through the grind of a long season. The Patriots just gave themselves a better chance to keep the run going. One more win, one step closer. That’s all anyone’s thinking about right now.
