Mike Vrabel Believes Patriots Still Need Mack Hollins While He’s On IR
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel believes Mack Hollins will still be a key part of the roster despite him being on injured reserve.
The Patriots placed Hollins on injured reserve on Saturday due to an abdominal injury. The receiver has to miss at least four games, and he missed the first of four on Sunday in New England’s 42-10 win over the New York Jets.
Despite Hollins being on injured reserve, the receiver traveled with the team, and Vrabel was happy the receiver was with the team. Although Hollins can’t make an impact on the field, the Patriots head coach believes the receiver can make an impact off the field.
“Mack (Hollins) means a lot to this football team,” Vrabel said postgame on Sunday. “His personality, his spirit, I’ve talked about that a bunch and he wanted to travel with us and be here and support and I know that he’s happy for Chiz (Efton Chism III), just because those two have been really close since the time that Chiz got here.
“I think it’s been (a) fun mentorship and we’ll need that from Mack. We’ll need him to make contributions off the field as we move forward.”
Hollins recorded 56 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns this season, as he signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Patriots in the offseason.
New England will host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday as the Patriots can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win and a loss to the Denver Broncos.