Mack Hollins, a veteran wide receiver for the New England Patriots, departed Sunday’s game early with a calf injury, an immediate blow to a receiving corps already thin, but his exit opened the door for Efton Chism III to step up big time, snagging a game-winning touchdown that could change his role moving forward.
Hollins’ Calf Injury: A Real Gut Punch for the Patriots
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is already preparing to be without Hollins for a bit, even though the team is still waiting for all the info on the severity of that calf injury. Vrabel said Monday morning, “I think we’ll probably know more here in a little bit. I don’t know if he’ll be able to practice here for a couple days. But again, I don’t have every detail. I’ll get in there with [the training staff] afterwards and kinda see where we are, and make sure we have guys that are ready to go and everybody is preparing as a starter.” He knows the energy Hollins brings to the field, so it’s a tough loss for them right now, and the “next guy” truly has to be ready to step up.
Chism III: From Snap Count to Game-Winner
And boy, did someone step up! In Hollins’ absence on Sunday, Efton Chism III got a season-high 34 offensive snaps, and he absolutely made the most of it. He hauled in two catches for 42 yards, including that crucial game-winning touchdown. Vrabel sounds like he’s been watching Chism, too, noting, “Of course. That’s what happens. Guys continue to take advantage of their opportunities, they get more opportunities.” He added that they’ve been trying to find ways to work “Chiz” into the game plan before this, praising him for doing “a lot of things well” and expecting him to “continue to know a bunch of different spots.” This could be a huge turning point for the young receiver.
The Patriots’ Receiver Room Scramble
This injury couldn’t come at a worse time for New England. They’re already without A.J. Brown, who’s stuck on injured reserve through at least next week. If Hollins misses time, the Patriots’ active roster would be down to just Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Chism. That’s a super thin group! They also have undrafted rookies Cameron Dorner and Kyle Dixon, plus Chandler Brayboy, on the practice squad. With the depth chart looking like that, it’s no shocker that Vrabel isn’t ruling out bringing in outside help. He was pretty blunt about it: “Sure. Anybody that can help us, we’ll go exploring here shortly.” The pressure is definitely on to find some more bodies to throw into that wide receiver room ASAP.
So, the Patriots are in a bit of a bind, needing to see if Chism can sustain this performance or if they’ll be hitting the phones for reinforcements. Meanwhile, back here in the Emerald City, our Seahawks took care of business, winning 30-23 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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