Vrabel explores receiver help as Hollins’ calf injury adds to Patriots’ depth questions

Mike Vrabel says New England will explore adding a wide receiver as Mack Hollins’ calf injury leaves another question around Drake Maye’s targets. A.J. Brown is already on injured reserve, and Hollins did not finish Sunday’s 29–26 victory over Buffalo.

Asked Monday whether the Patriots might bring someone in with both receivers hurt, Vrabel said the club would explore anyone who could help. He identified no prospective signing or trade and did not announce a replacement for Hollins.

Vrabel’s answer appears in this clip from the Patriots’ press conference.

Hollins’ availability remains unresolved. In the team’s full Monday transcript, Vrabel said he did not know whether Hollins would be able to practice for a couple of days. He planned to meet with the medical staff for more detail and emphasized that the next player must be ready.

Lauren Campbell’s reporting for MassLive places the injury in the third quarter against Buffalo and confirms Hollins did not return. The next game is October 11 against Las Vegas at Gillette Stadium. The practice question matters before managers can turn the roster discussion into a Week 5 lineup decision.

New England has already needed a contribution from farther down the receiving group. Jordy McElroy of Patriots Wire noted that second-year receiver Efton Chism III caught the winning touchdown against Buffalo and could receive additional opportunities if Hollins remains unavailable. That possible increase remains a projection; Monday’s comments did not assign him a particular snap count or target share.

Vrabel also described what he wants from Maye: distribute the ball rather than concentrate on a single receiver, use the checkdown when a downfield throw is unavailable, and continue improving ball security and the pocket. Those instructions help explain why the response to another injury can involve several existing players as the club explores outside help.

For RSO managers, a confirmed transaction and the coming practice reports would answer different questions. A new receiver would change the available roster. Hollins’ participation would clarify whether one is needed immediately. Until those decisions arrive, Chism’s winning catch and Vrabel’s willingness to look outside the building support monitoring the depth chart, without assigning any receiver Hollins’ full workload.