The Patriots are en route to Denver for Sunday's AFC Championship Game vs. the Broncos and reinforcements have arrived for New England's offense.
On Saturday, the Patriots activated WR Mack Hollins (abdomen) from injured reserve and elevated RB D'Ernest Johnson and DT Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad for Sunday's championship game. Hollins is set to make his return from a four-game absence after sustaining an injury in the Patriots Week 16 win over the Ravens. To make room for Hollins on the 53-man roster, the Patriots placed DT Eric Gregory on injured reserve. Gregory was inactive for the first two playoff games, with Taylor getting the nod to provide depth on the interior defensive line.
Starting with the Patriots offense, Hollins should provide a huge boost to the Patriots offense for the AFC Championship Game. Before his injury, the veteran led all Patriots wideouts in snaps (657), was third on the team in receptions (46), and fourth in receiving yards (550). Along with being a quarterback-friendly target for Drake Maye, Hollins was a key piece in New England's run game, allowing the Patriots to run effectively out of their three-receiver groupings because Hollins (6-4, 221) can block like a tight end.
Hollins often blocks linebackers and safeties at the point of attack in the run game, aligning on the wing or in the slot. On top of having good size and versatility, Hollins still has the play speed of a wide receiver, making the Patriots three-receiver sets more dynamic than their heavy groupings. Hollins' production might not jump off the page, but the flexibility that he brings to the table was part of the reason why the Patriots led the NFL in offensive efficiency during the regular season (first in EPA per play). Plus, the veteran is a trusted pass-catcher, using his catch radius and savvy to be a friendly target for Maye, especially over the middle of the field.
As for the Patriots practice squad elevations, New England is sticking with the same script as its first two playoff games. Johnson has been elevated from the practice squad to serve as the third back and a kickoff returner, while Taylor has been active as the fifth option in the Patriots defensive tackle rotation. Despite only playing 14 snaps last week, Taylor logged two hurries in New England's divisional round win over the Texans â solid production for a depth player.
Although they're both eligible to be activated at any time, the Patriots opted to not activate RB Terrell Jennings (concussion) or DT Joshua Farmer (hamstring) from injured reserve this week. Jennings began practicing on Jan. 14, giving the Patriots until Feb. 4 to activate the first-year running back before his 21-day window expires (the week of the Super Bowl). Farmer just began practicing this past week on Wednesday, so his window will remain open through the Super Bowl. For now, New England will continue to roll with Johnson and Taylor as RB3/KR and DT5.
With a full 53-man roster and two practice-squad elevations, the Patriots game-day roster is at 55 players. New England will need to declare seven inactives 90 minutes before kickoff. The question is whether they'll need an additional edge rusher without captain Harold Landry III (knee, out) and if there's a game-day spot for a sixth wide receiver now that Hollins is expected to return. Perhaps that last game-day active spot would go to rookie OLB Bradyn Swinson instead of rookie WR Efton Chism III. Another option would be to lean on hybrid LB Jahlani Tavai as depth on the edge, rather than making Chism inactive, who could be helpful if Hollins has any limitations in his return.
The Patriots will visit the Broncos for the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field with kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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