New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins spent the past few weeks battling an abdominal injury, but the big-bodied wideout could return for the AFC Championship Game. The team activated his practice window earlier this week and officially listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game. While only time will tell if he’ll actually play, a deeper dive into the practice report shows it’s reasonable to assume the wide receiver will be out there.
Mack Hollins Injury Update: Patriots WR Questionable For AFC Championship Game
While he is questionable with his abdominal injury, Mack Hollins practiced in full on Friday. This came after he missed Wednesday’s practice and was a limited participant on Thursday. From the outside looking in, New England appears to be ramping up his workload to see how his body responds. Assuming he doesn’t have any setbacks, he will probably play against the Denver Broncos for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
A relatively unheralded signing at the time, Mack Hollins has stepped up to be a key part of New England’s passing attack. Appearing in 15 games while making 13 starts, the longtime journeyman finished the season with 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns, making this easily the second-best season of his career. The former fourth-round pick established a clear rapport with MVP candidate Drake Maye and made a name for himself as a deep play threat and contested catch specialist.
The Patriots offense hasn’t looked quite as dangerous without Hollins in the lineup. While they made it to the AFC Championship Game, New England hasn’t destroyed defenses through the air, and Maye has been forced to hold onto the ball longer than usual. Having Mack Hollins return from his injury could be the difference as the team hopes to make their first Super Bowl since the Tom Brady Era.
Main Photo: James Lang – Imagn Images
