The New England Patriots are gearing up for a high-stakes AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, but there’s uncertainty surrounding the status of key wide receiver Mack Hollins. After a hard-fought win against the Houston Texans, head coach Mike Vrabel spoke on Monday about Hollins’ injury recovery, noting that while the team is still assessing his condition, they’re hopeful to have him back for Sunday’s showdown in Denver.

“Mack’s status is still up in the air,” Vrabel said. “We’re working through it, but we’re hopeful he’ll be ready to contribute.”

Hollins, who racked up 550 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, isn’t a top target like Stefon Diggs, but his return would be a boost to rookie QB Drake Maye as they face a tough Broncos defense.

Meanwhile, with the Broncos set to play without star QB Bo Nix, Vrabel also shared thoughts on facing Jarrett Stidham, who will step in. The Patriots have studied Stidham’s play from past seasons, and Vrabel believes the Broncos’ backup is a capable playmaker, despite not having thrown a pass since 2023.

With the Patriots favored on the road, all eyes will be on how both teams adapt to their changing circumstances in this high-stakes matchup.