The New England Patriots eked out a hard-fought Week 8 victory against a feisty Dolphins team, 24-19 in Miami. Drake Maye continued his bounce-back and had an outstanding game against Miami, throwing for 199 yards on 16 completions, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
All this was achieved without Maye having his top three receivers, A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins, and Romeo Doubs, on the field.
Now, there's even more good news looming on the horizon with Hollins's possible return to action in the Week 9 home game against the Packers. Before his injury, Hollins was among the most reliable Patriots receivers, if not the most reliable.
Hollins' return to action would be a big boost for Maye, who's been on fire, especially during the past two games.
Mack Hollins is set to return to the Patriots at the perfect time
Before his injury in game four against Buffalo, Hollins had racked up 15 catches for 209 yards in four games. While those aren't earth-shattering numbers, Hollins is a big, reliable target, and Maye will be happy to get him back on the field if he's available against the Packers.
It's a credit to Maye that the Patriots stand 5 and 3 for the season now, with the plethora of injuries they've sustained, not only to the wide receiving core, but to the offensive line as well.
At 6'4" and 221 pounds, Hollins is able to climb the ladder and catch passes that many other Patriots' receivers can't. His return to action will be a welcome addition to a Patriots' offense that's going to need every advantage they can muster if they are to help defend the team's AFC East title in 2026.
The Patriots are now sitting a game and a half behind the Bills in the AFC East, with the Bills having a game in hand. While injuries will hit any NFL team at any position at any time, the number of devastating injuries to the Patriots' starters has clearly contributed to their losses.
As injured players return to action, players like Hollins will have a major impact on the next nine games of the season. The 33-year-old Hollins is not only the Patriots' tallest receiver, but also their most experienced. That experience is invaluable to the team's young receivers like Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
The mounting injuries to an already suspect offensive line, including the loss of both starting guards, Mike Onwenu and Alijah Vera-Tucker, have put even more pressure on Maye to perform. Getting an excellent safety valve like Hollins back on the field will be huge for the rest of the season if he can stay healthy.
Hollins' return to action will be even more valuable with Hunter Henry leaving the Miami game with a foot injury. If Henry is out for any length of time, the Patriots' tight end corps, with only Eli Raridon and fellow rookie Tanner Arkin available, is exceedingly thin. Hollins may also be tasked with picking up the slack at tight end.
Every NFL team suffered injuries during the grueling 17-game season. Having enough depth to overcome those injuries is a major determinant of how well a team ultimately performs. The Patriots have already suffered a massive number of injuries.
But now, with the return of players like Hollins and hopefully others, the team's performance should improve significantly in its remaining nine games. It's a very encouraging sign.
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