The Patriots activated receiver Mack Hollins to their 53-man roster on 7 November, the New England club announced before facing Green Bay. The team's analysis expects him to suit up against the Packers after a calf injury kept him out.
Hollins returns after a calf injury
New England placed Hollins on injured reserve in October. The Patriots' 7 November announcement says he played the season's first four games, catching 15 passes for 209 yards. That production came before his absence, so the activation restores an established target for quarterback Drake Maye rather than adding a new signing.
The club's roster analysis says Hollins hurt his calf during the second half of the Buffalo Bills game and missed four games. It also expects him to play against Green Bay. The club therefore describes his return to the field as expected, while its roster announcement confirms only the activation.
New England's Friday injury report had marked Hollins questionable with limited participation because of the calf issue. The later activation changes his roster position. It does not rewrite the earlier medical designation, and the team can still make a separate decision on his match-day role.
Receiver choices remain narrow
The Patriots' 6 November injury report ruled wide receiver A.J. Brown out with ankle and knee issues. Romeo Doubs remains on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, according to the club's roster analysis. That analysis lists DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III and Hollins as the available wide receivers for the Packers game.
SportsRivo checked the Friday injury report against Saturday's activation. Hollins was questionable when the medical report closed, then returned to the active roster the next day. These are separate steps: the first describes his condition for the fixture, while the second clears a roster place for him. The comparison does not guarantee a particular number of snaps. Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel had described the return as a process earlier in the week. At the Patriots' 4 November press conference, Mike Vrabel said, “We just want to get guys out there at practice.” His comment preceded both the final injury report and the activation.
What the move changes for New England
- Hollins gives Maye another available receiver, with the club expecting him to play. The eventual workload remains a game-day decision.
- Brown's absence and Doubs's injured-reserve status leave the four receivers named in the club's analysis as New England's listed options.
- The roster move fills the open place identified by the Patriots' analysis; offensive lineman Greg Van Roten was not activated from injured reserve at the same time.
Packers visit is next
The Patriots' 4 November game preview schedules Green Bay's visit to Gillette Stadium for 8 November at 4:25 p.m. Eastern. The match will show whether Hollins returns to the field immediately after his activation.
Source: New England Patriots