One of the upsides of the Patriots‘ wave of injuries that struck on the back end of the season was that, at least, the team had a chance to get its players back and healthy either just before the start of the playoffs or during the postseason run. The Patriots lost key players on the front line on both sides of the ball late in the 2025 season, but all have returned to contribute to the team’s first two postseason wins on the way to the AFC Championship Game.
But one guy has yet to get back on the field after having missed more than a month with an abdominal injury: clutch receiver Mack Hollins, one of the veteran leaders on the roster.
Hollins is still uncertain for Sunday’s game against the Broncos in Denver, and when asked about Hollins being a full go in practice on Thursday, coach Mike Vrabel said, “That won’t happen today, no.”
But Hollins was on the practice field, in a limited capacity, on Thursday, holding open the possibility of a return this week.
Mack Hollins Was Reliable All Season
Hollins did not put up eye-popping numbers in 2025, but he gave the Patriots exactly what they wanted from him–a dedicated, professional approach that has helped turn around the culture of the team from the group that went 4-13 in both 2023 and 2024. The 6-foot-4 Hollins provided Drake Maye with a big, smart, reliable target in tight situations, and Hollins wound up with 46 catches for 550 yards in 15 games.
Hollins is a well-liked veteran, and has been part of two conference championship games–with the Eagles in the 2017 season and last year with Buffalo.
He’s a former teammate of Stefon Diggs, who said he is eager to get Hollins back.
“We’ve all been waiting for Mack,” Diggs said. “It’s something we talk about almost every other day. When we see Mack, everybody is happy to see Mack. Mack has that infectious energy. He approaches the game the right way. We miss him. That’s our brother. If we get him back, that’d be great. If we don’t, those guys are going to continue to have to step up. …
“I think the guys have stepped up and done a great job, but if we do get [Hollins] back, we’re all going to be excited. We’ll throw a party — not a real party.”
Patriots Digging Up Jarrett Stidham Tape
The Patriots will go into Denver as the favorites, largely because of the ankle injury suffered by quarterback Bo Nix in the divisional round win over the Bills last week. Backup Jarrett Stidham will get the start, and he has not taken the field as a starter since playing two games at the end of the 2023 season.
That can be dangerous–the Patriots have precious little film on Stidham, who has the arm and enough experience to come into Sunday’s game as a dangerous unknown.
Said Vrabel: “He’s got the snaps that he has – the 400 or so snaps that are in regular season action. And then they have a lot of snaps on what they want to do. So, we’ll have to be prepared for the plan and the things that they’ve shown. I’m sure there’ll be some things that they haven’t shown. He’s more than capable to go out there and operate. It’s why he’s a backup, and one that was coveted around the league.”
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