Patriots place Mack Hollins on injured reserve with a calf injury

The New England Patriots placed wide receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve Saturday afternoon with a calf injury. The team announced the move on its official account, and ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport posted it within minutes.

What is confirmed

Hollins was already ruled out for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing Friday's practice. Injured reserve goes further. He now has to sit at least four games before he can be designated to return, so this is no longer a one-week problem for his owners.

Fullback Reggie Gilliam also went on injured reserve in the same set of moves. New England activated Brenden Schooler from the non-football injury list and signed cornerback Kindle Vildor to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Where it leaves the receiver room

Hollins had been a steady piece of the passing game. Through four games he has 15 catches on 20 targets for 209 yards, per ESPN's game logs, including six catches for 87 yards against Jacksonville in Week 3. He has not scored yet.

A.J. Brown is already on injured reserve, so the Patriots are now without two veteran receivers for the next month. Romeo Doubs, DeMario "Pop" Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism are the receivers left to handle the snaps. Tight end Hunter Henry should keep a healthy share of Drake Maye's targets.

The team has not said how long Hollins is expected to be out beyond the four-game minimum.

What RSO owners should do now

Owners who were holding Hollins through a single missed game should move him to an IR slot if their league has one. If it does not, he is a reasonable cut in shallower formats, since he will not help your lineup for at least a month.

Doubs is the receiver to start from this group. Douglas and Williams are worth a look on waivers for owners who need depth, with Douglas the safer bet for a steady target share. Henry stays a fine tight end option.

What to watch next

Watch how the snaps split among Douglas, Williams and Chism against the Raiders on Sunday, and whether New England adds a veteran receiver during the week. The earliest Hollins can come back is after four more games are played.