Patriots fans knew their team would be extremely shorthanded entering Week 17 against the New York Jets. Head coach Mike Vrabel had already ruled out seven players on Friday who typically play critical roles on both sides of the ball.
About 24 hours later, the New England Patriots’ injury issues went from troubling to potentially catastrophic.
The team announced Saturday that Mack Hollins, the team’s third-leading receiver behind Stefon Diggs and tight end Hunter Henry, is heading for injured reserve. With only two games remaining in the regular season, the news means Hollins, who’s been dealing with an abdomen injury, will miss significant playoff time.