Wootton High School alumnus Mack Hollins has been placed on injured reserve by the New England Patriots, dealing a significant blow to the team’s receiving corps as the postseason approaches.
The Patriots announced Saturday that Hollins was moved to injured reserve after missing practice all week with an abdominal injury. Hollins had been listed on the injury report and did not participate in any practices leading up to the decision.
Hollins is coming off a strong performance in last Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens, catching seven passes for 69 yards in a game that clinched a playoff berth for New England, now 12-3. While he did not leave the game early, he appeared to suffer the injury at some point during the contest, playing 49 of a possible 74 offensive snaps, according to ESPN.
The 6-foot-4, 221-pound wide receiver has been a major part of the Patriots’ offense this season. Hollins started 13 games and is currently third on the team in both receptions, with 46, and receiving yards, with 550. He also led all Patriots receivers in playing time, logging 68 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Because he has been placed on injured reserve, Hollins must miss at least four games, meaning he would not be eligible to return until deep in the postseason, if he was to return at all.
Hollins grew up in Rockville and attended Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School, where he developed into a standout athlete before continuing his career at the University of North Carolina. At UNC, he made his mark as both a receiver and a special teams contributor, traits that have defined his NFL career and earned him a reputation for toughness and versatility.
The Patriots’ receiving group also features another Montgomery County native in veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who currently leads the team with 76 catches for 869 yards. Diggs is a Gaithersburg native who starred at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney before becoming one of the nation’s top recruits and heading to the University of Maryland.
