The Patriots are set to get a jolt to their offense for the AFC Championship game against the Broncos.
They activated wide receiver Mack Hollins from injured reserve Saturday after he missed Weeks 17 and 18 and their pair of opening postseason games with an abdomen injury, giving star quarterback Drake Maye another key wideout in addition to Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte.
At the time of his injury, Hollins had collected the third-most receptions (46) and the fourth-most receiving yards (550) on the Patriots — putting him in position to potentially surpass his previous career-bests of 57 and 690, respectively, from 2022 when he was with the Raiders.
The abdominal injury occurred during the Patriots’ Week 16 win over the Ravens, when Hollins caught seven passes for 69 yards.
Hollins, Maye said, has been “awesome” for the Patriots, while head coach Mike Vrabel, according to ESPN, told reporters that Hollins “has an energy to him.”
“It’s been awesome having him back,” Maye told reporters Friday, according to MassLive. “He’s a great player for us, been a great player for us all year. He practices hard. He’s one of those guys that brings it every day and has ever since I met him. I know he started off in OTAs and training camp battling a little injury, but since then, he’s been all gas, no brakes, and that’s how he is.
“He’s staying, running routes after practice. He’s doing all the little things. I always see him before the games on Saturday nights, drawing every single play up in the pass plays. He does those things, and you can tell why so many different teams wanted him and how he plays at a high level.”
With a win Sunday against the Broncos and backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, Hollins would secure a spot in the second Super Bowl of his career, and this time, it’d come with the Patriots team he — and the Eagles — defeated in February 2018.
He logged 17 offensive snaps and one special teams snap during the game when another backup signal-caller — Nick Foles — threw for 373 yards, three touchdowns and an interception to power Philadelphia’s offense.
