The resurgent New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 on Sunday, winning their second playoff game and fifth consecutive game overall — and 15th of their last 16. But most importantly, the win in the AFC divisional playoff game propelled the Patriots to their first AFC Championship game since the 2018 season.
But the Patriots suffered a significant injury blow in the Texans game when eight-year veteran cornerback Carlton Davis was forced to leave the game with a possible concussion, even as he was in the midst of his best game of his first season in New England, with two interceptions — his first two of the season — and four solo tackles.
At the same time, the Patriots continued to play without one of their most important offensive players, wide receiver Mack Hollins — playing for his sixth team in an eight-year career — who remained on the injured reserve list due to an abdominal injury. Hollins has missed both New England playoff games as well as the final two games of the regular season with the somewhat mysterious injury.
Both Davis and Hollins would be likely to play important roles when the Patriots travel to Denver to face the Broncos on Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl 60 on the line. On Wednesday, coach Mike Vrabel announced updates on both players, and the news was a mixed bag.
Hollins Remains Unavailable, At Least For Now
The 32-year-old Hollins, signed by the Patriots to a two-year, $8.4 million free-agent contract last March, has served as a key receiver for Patriots MVP-candidate quarterback Drake Maye, who connected with the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles fourth-round draft pick 46 times in 65 targets for 550 yards and two touchdowns this season.
At 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Hollins has also served as a frequent blocker for Maye while also emerging as a locker room leader, earning the nickname “Tarzan” from teammates both for his impressive physique and his habit of rarely wearing shoes when not playing.
But Hollins has not played since late in the Patriots’ Week 16, 28-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, though the Patriots have not revealed the exact nature of Hollins’ abdominal injury or how it happened. On Wednesday, Vrabel made clear that Hollins would not take part in practice that day, putting his status in doubt for Sunday in Denver.
Outlook on Davis More Hopeful
When it came to Davis, Vrabel had better news — though the 2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-round pick remains uncertain to play on Sunday.
Davis, Vrabel announced, would take part in Wednesday’s practice, though his participation would be classified as “limited.” Indeed, once practice got underway at WIN Waste Management Field House at Patriots Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Davis was seen “in the red non-contact jersey today after entering concussion protocol on Sunday against the Texans,” according to WEEI Radio correspondent Tom Carroll, who shared video on his social media account of Davis participating in workout drills with the team.
Chances Davis Will Play in Denver
Davis, who signed a three-year, $54 million free-agent contract with the Patriots during the offseason, appears to have already reached Phase 4 of the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol, which allows for “club-based non-contact training drills.”
Though Davis remains uncertain to play on Sunday, and the median time missed under the league’s concussion protocol is nine days — meaning one game missed — at least a dozen players have cleared the protocol without missing a game this season.
They include the Patriots’ other starting cornerback, Christian Gonzalez, who entered concussion protocol following the Patriots’ Wild Card Round win over the Los Angeles Chargers but was cleared to play against the Texans last weekend.
Patriots Announce Latest News on Pair of Crucial Players Before AFC Championship