The Patriots will not have one of their key receivers for at least the rest of the regular season and the early portion of the postseason.
New England announced on Saturday that receiver Mack Hollins has been placed on injured reserve with an abdominal injury.
Hollins has been a key receiver for the Patriots throughout 2025, as he is third on the club with 46 receptions and 550 yards. He’s also recorded a pair of touchdowns.
As a corresponding move, New England signed defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to the 53-man roster off of the club’s practice squad.
Additionally, defensive lineman Leonard Taylor and defensive back Kobee Minor were elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Last Sunday night’s comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit at Baltimore helped keep the Patriots alone atop the AFC East, and in the mix for the top seed in the AFC. It also preserved their run at something they’ve only done twice before.
With a win on Sunday at the Jets, the Patriots will finish the regular season with an 8-0 record on the road.
Via NBC Sports research, the Patriots have done it twice before — in 2007 and 2016. Both years, they made it to the Super Bowl.
That said, the road schedule has hardly been daunting. But no NFL team hand picks its slate of games. They just play them.
The ultimate road test for the Patriots will come if they have to face the Broncos in Denver. During the Belichick-led heyday the Patriots were 0-3 in the playoffs at Mile High Stadium.
The Patriots may have running back TreVeyon Henderson in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Henderson suffered a concussion in last Sunday’s win over the Ravens, but has made enough progress in the concussion protocol to be listed as questionable for this weekend. The news was not as positive for a couple of other players who suffered head injuries against Baltimore.
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and left guard Jared Wilson have both been ruled out for this week. Both players will try to get cleared for Week 18, but the Patriots may wind up resting players against the Dolphins if they clinch the AFC East title this weekend. A win and a Bills loss would make that happen.
Defensive lineman Milton Williams (ankle), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (foot), wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen), and edge rusher Harold Landry (knee) have also been ruled out. Wide receiver Pop Douglas (hamstring) joins Henderson with a questionable designation.
Yes, dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things.
To their credit, the Jets have performed an about-face regarding the most recent dysfunctional thing they did.
After the New York Post reported that the Jets had decided not to let Ashley Castanio-Gervasi participate in $100,000 field-goal kicking contest at halftime of Sunday’s game against the Patriots due to a technicality, the Jets decided to allow her to proceed.
Castanio-Gervasi had said the team was aware she’d previously played college soccer, at the Division I level. The team disqualified her because she’s a high-school soccer coach.
“This is life-changing money for me,” Castanio-Gervasi told the Post. “I was confident I could have made it. . . . This was the first time I was hearing of any of these [coaching] questions.”
The story was published by the Post on Thursday. On Friday, the Jets decided to let her participate, along with three other finalists in a “Kick for Cash” competition.
“We realized there was an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding Ashley’s eligibility for the contest,” the Jets said in a statement to the Post. “In an effort to remedy the situation, we are allowing her to kick this Sunday for an opportunity to win the prize. We value the passion and loyalty of our fans and are committed to creating memorable experiences.”
The Jets had informed Castanio-Gervasi on Monday that she wasn’t eligible, citing rules that prevent recent players and coaches from Olympic, college, and high-school soccer, rugby, and football teams. She had previously qualified for the contest by making a 20-yard field goal at a tailgate event in October.
The kicking distance for the final competition isn’t currently known. Regardless, the Jets have restored her opportunity to try to win the money.
The Jets will be without four players this weekend, including two of their top contributors.
Head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters on Friday that tight end Mason Taylor and defensive end Will McDonald are among the players who will not be on the field when New York takes on New England this weekend.
Taylor (neck) leads the Jets with 44 receptions this season, going for 369 yards with one touchdown.
McDonald (knee) leads the club with 8.0 sacks.
Glenn also ruled out defensive lineman Jay Tufele (foot) and linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (neck).
New York’s full injury report with game statuses will be out later on Friday.
