Hollins has been on injured reserve since late December.
The New England Patriots got an added bonus heading into the AFC Championship game. They have activated wide receiver Mack Hollins from IR after an abdominal injury he sustained late in the regular season.
Hollins has been on IR since December 27th; until then, he had been a key part of the Patriots' offensive success. In the thirteen games played this season, he had recorded 46 receptions (third on the team) and 550 receiving yards.
He was designated to return from IR on Thursday and practiced for the first time this week.
Hollins has been a valuable asset on the field for quarterback Drake Maye this season. He was the team's first free agent signing this past March during the offseason. He has utilized his large catch radius when pulling in passes from Maye down the field.
Hollins also doubles as a great blocking wideout. It's an attribute that helps the run game, which has evolved in a very positive manner throughout the regular season for the Patriots.
When it was announced that Hollins was going on IR a month ago, many knew there would be a huge void on the field. The Patriots' free agent signee played 68% of the team's offensive snaps, which was more than any other receiver.
With Hollins being activated from IR, the Patriots had to make room for him on the 53-man roster prior to the trip to Mile High. The Pats placed rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory on IR with a knee injury. The team also activated both defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III and running back D'Ernest Johnson from the practice squad.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is going to need all the help he can get in a highly anticipated AFC Championship game. He will need a diverse group og weapons to dish it out against the physical Denver Broncos defense. Hollins's return aids in that.
Maye will now have Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMaro "Pop" Douglas, and rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III out there to throw to. Hollins gives this receiving core even more depth in a pivotal game for the right to go to Super Bowl LX.
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