The New England Patriots placed wide receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve Saturday with a calf injury suffered in the third quarter of their win over the Buffalo Bills. The 10-year veteran led the team with 15 receptions and 209 receiving yards before the injury sidelined him for at least the next four games.s receiving corps thin heading into Week 6. Hollins suffered the injury in the third quarter of New England’s win over the Buffalo Bills the previous Sunday, and under NFL rules he will miss at least the next four games.
Hollins led the Patriots with 15 receptions and 209 receiving yards at the time of his IR placement. His production had surged after the Patriots lost receiver A.J. Brown to a high-ankle sprain in the season opener, a role he filled while New England built a 2-2 record.
Injury Status And Designation
The Patriots have not released a specific return date for Hollins beyond the mandatory four-game IR minimum, which rules him out at least through the team’s next four contests. Hollins addressed his recovery directly, saying, “I’m working as hard as I can to get back as fast as I can. As a veteran, you have to stay out of your own way sometimes.”
No further details on his treatment or rehabilitation have been disclosed.
Who Replaces Hollins On The Patriots’ Receiver Depth Chart
With Hollins sidelined, New England is down to four wide receivers on its active roster: Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams. The Patriots could get a boost as soon as the week after this Sunday when A.J. Brown may return from the high-ankle sprain that has kept him out since the season opener. This Sunday’s Raiders game would mark the fourth contest Brown has missed.
New England also placed veteran fullback Reggie Gilliam on injured reserve alongside Hollins. The two moves pushed the Patriots to 19 players placed on injured reserve this season, already surpassing their total from 2025.
To offset the losses, the Patriots activated special teams player Brenden Schooler from the non-football injury list and signed cornerback Kindle Vildor to the 53-man roster off the practice squad. The team also elevated linebacker K.J. Britt and safety Elliott Davison from the practice squad. Those moves come as New England ruled out four cornerbacks for Sunday’s game, including starters Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III.
Hollins’ Role This Season
Hollins had become the Patriots’ top target through four games, a workload that grew directly out of Brown’s absence. His 15 catches and 209 yards topped the team before the injury ended his availability, underscoring how much New England had come to rely on him in the passing game.
What’s Next For The Patriots
New England faces the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Hollins cannot return before the Patriots have played four more games, and no update on his practice status is expected until he nears eligibility to come off injured reserve.
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