FOXBOROUGH, Mass — When it comes to the 2026 New England Patriots, each week always brings some good injury news as well as some bad updates.
Two key players returned to practice on Wednesday ahead of the game against the Green Bay Packers, but A.J. Brown as well as a few others remained sidelined.
Here's what I'm hearing:
Mack Hollins and Greg Van Roten return to practice
In his first week eligable to return from injured reserve, Mack Hollins was spotted on the practice field alongside another offensive lineman who was also on the list.
"Mack and GVR [Greg Van Roten] will return to play," Vrabel revealed before practice. "We just want to get guys out there at practice. There's only so much that the trainers and strength coaches can do with them. So, hopefully we can work those guys back in and see
where they are here as we work through the week."
Maye also highlighted getting Hollins back.
"Mack, looking forward to seeing, throughout the week, how he's looking," he added. "I think anytime that you get a guy like Mack, who is a veteran in this league, a classic Tar Heel who does things the right way, he's smart and he's easy to throw to. He does a lot of things the right way. It's comforting definitely having No. 13 out there and looking forward to seeing whenever he gets a chance – whether it's this week or down the road – to get back."
The latest on A.J. Brown
After revealing that Brown was not expected to practice on Wednesday, Vrabel fielded numerous questions on the star wide receiver. Specifically, Brown already spent a few weeks on injured reserve after suffering an ankle sprain in the season opener. So, is it possible he goes back on the list?
"Again, I can just speak on today and where he's at today and what we feel like he can do today," Vrabel said. "So, that's why I said he wouldn't be out there today."
The knee issue popped up on the injury report last Wednesday when the receiver did not finish practice and then missed the following two days as well as Sunday's game. But as far as he's concerned, Vrabel's focus is the players who will be out there for practice.
"My concern is about trying to prepare for the Packers. That's really my only concern, trying to figure out what we do today, on first and second down, how we practice, and how we can carry over the second half of last week's football game to where we look like somewhat of the expectations that I would expect us to look like," he said. "Those are my concerns and trying to figure them out. Certainly the health of the team is critical, but we have to make sure that the guys that are practicing are preparing for Green Bay."
For Maye, he is trying to be there for the receiver and knows he's doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible.
"I think my message – I see him all the time, and I don't think it's something to share with you guys," he said. "So, I know he's working hard to get back, and I think it's just something where he wishes he's out there. And he's working, and we know how much he can help us. So, it's just trusting him getting back, trusting in the Lord and putting his work. Just keep on attacking each and every day, one day at a time."
Practice attendance
Along with Brown, Vrabel provided some updates on two other players ahead of practice.
"I don't think you'll see – [Christian] Barmore and TreVeyon Henderson are away with an illness, so those guys won't be there," he said. "There'll be some other guys that will come out later in practice after the media availability. But those three guys probably won't practice at all today."
During the media-attended portion of practice, Brown, Barmore, and Henderson were joined by TE Hunter Henry, OT Morgan Moses, OLB Gabe Jacas, and OLB Dre'Mont Jones, as the others were missing.
Henry's injury occurred during the win over the Dolphins, as he was unable to finish the game. And if he's unable to go this week, it would be a huge loss for Maye and the offense.
"I think he's been someone for me that I can count on since my first snap in there my rookie year," the quarterback explained. "He's been a security blanket and a great guy in the huddle, a great leader on this team. So, anytime you lose a guy like Hunter, a captain that does everything the right way, talks to the guys in the huddle, knows what I like, my body language, route running, does stuff in the run game. It’s tough. But I know he'll do his best to get back out there as quick as he can."
Trade deadline
As the trade deadline nears, more and more reports are circulating regarding players for each team who are potential candidates. For the Patriots, there are two: Barmore and Carlton Davis III.
But Vrabel made it clear that those reports aren't coming from him.
"I have not shared that information with anybody. This time of year, I think that all these things kind of get drummed up," he expressed. "So, we're focused on trying to prepare for Green Bay and make the corrections from the game. This is business as normal here, so I don't know where a lot of these things come from. Certainly not from any conversations with me."
But, are the Patriots willing to make a trade if the deal is right?
"Well, and I've said this a bunch, and I'm sure that Eliot [Wolf], when he speaks, and Ryan [Cowden] and whoever else speaks on our behalf, we'll always try to look and see ways to make the roster better and make our team better," the head coach reiterated. "So, that could be multiple ways. We've had some moving parts here with the roster, guys coming off the roster and trying to get them on the practice squad. We got guys coming back from designated for a return. We only get so many of those spots, so there's certainly a lot of things that we have to look at with the roster."
Preparing for Green Bay
Coming off an iffy performance against the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots will have their hands full with a very tough Packers team this weekend.
"Nobody's had more 20-yard pass plays. A quarterback that's wildly efficient. He has a few off days, but they're few and far between. They throw shots. They've obviously great speed on the edges," Vrabel said. "They have an excellent tight end, Tucker Kraft, and now getting [Josh] Jacobs back, it seems like they're trying to work him back in there a little bit more and see what he can do for them in the red zone and things like that. I think they've protected better the last few games. I think that when one of your best players for them is their quarterback, or their best player, that's an emphasis that they try to make because when you give him time, he's able to find [Matthew] Golden, [Christian] Watson or Tucker Kraft.
"Defensively, very physical. They have the second-most negative plays and created the second-most negative plays in the league. Seventeen percent of their drives end in a turnover, so that leads the league as well."
Maye also highlighted the defensive efforts by Green Bay.
"They jump out on tape. I think they're physical. They're well-coached," he said. "They don't let up a lot of explosive plays. I think they're in the right spot. They've got veteran guys. They've got young guys playing well. They're good in the back end. They keep things in front. They mix up pressure looks. They're getting guys free to the quarterback. We've got a tough challenge. I played the defensive coordinator [Jonathan Gannon] one time my rookie year, and they do some good stuff. They do some really good stuff and will give us a lot of challenges. So, we've got a tough challenge, and then we've got to be on our communication. We're at home and have to try to use that to our advantage, but at the same time, we've got to be on our P's and Q's this week for sure."
And they are certainly known for creating turnovers, which has been a problem for this Patriots offense.
"I think speaking from playing zone coverage, they've got great eyes. The guys, they got eyes on the quarterback, they make plays on the football," he added. "They can obviously catch well. The safeties, I think, are great players. They do a lot of things well and they read the quarterback very well, mix up in zone looks. Tip balls have turned into picks that they've shown. So, they've just had a habit for creating turnovers in the pocket with the quarterback. So, they just have got some free rushers help, too, of the quarterback panicking and trying to fit some stuff to tight windows. They're good at keeping you in some negative plays. They make you longer distances. It's hard. You try to stay ahead of the chains. They do a good job of pushing you back."
Robert Kraft is a Hall of Fame Finalist (again)
Robert Kraft is, once again, one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he was named one of five nominees advancing forward in the contributor category.
He was also a finalist last year, but did not get enough votes.
"I mean, obviously I think just being able to buy the team and the success that they've had since he's bought the team is really unprecedented. I think the ability to continue to grow this area, to grow what is Patriots, the Patriot Place and everything that surrounds this place," Vrabel said. "The success speaks for itself. I think he's always continuing to grow the game. I think having these conversations as a coach now with Robert about the media deals, the ability to grow the game, trying to strengthen our relationship with the players and what's best for the game of football. I mean, he admittedly started out as a fan of the team and then obviously was able to buy them. I started out as a fan of the Browns. I didn't end up buying the Browns, but I played in the NFL, so I guess we all have a dream. He's certainly done a lot. The ability to keep it within his family is something I appreciated, having the opportunity to come back here and work with familiar faces."
Tom Brady returns
Gillette Stadium will be packed with some familiar faces this weekend, as Rob Gronkowski will be there to get inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, while Tom Brady will travel with FOX to call the game.
So, is Vrabel planning any conversations with Brady?
"I think I'm required contractually to catch up with him at some point," he said. "I'm sure it'll be a Zoom. I'm sure they won't show up here. I'm sure it will be on Zoom. Yep, there you go. So yep, contractually I'll be talking to him, and I'm sure I'll see him at Gronk's [Rob Gronkowski] induction on Saturday."
Maye also emphasized the legacy Brady has.
"Yeah, it's obviously cool. What a legend to come back here, and it's definitely cool for him, I bet, to come back and call a game in the stadium where he won so many games and was a legend in this stadium. Really, him, the fans and their teams built Gillette into what it is now," the quarterback explained. "So, I bet it's cool for him. It really doesn't affect me much. You talk to him, and I'm not even sure we're allowed to talk to him in production because he's with the Raiders. But it's always cool to see. You don't hear much back from the TV copies. You don't really watch much of my own TV copies unless it's little things of, if I said anything that I think could hurt us. But really other than that, I know he hangs out around the field sometimes, so you just try to go appreciate him for what he left here, and that's really about it."
Other notes
- Vrabel on Harold Landry's status: "I would say that anybody that's still here and that's getting treatment is tracking. How quickly they track or what that pace is, I don't know. I just know that he's working extremely hard. Like I've said a few times before, whenever he's ready, he'll start to return to play or he'll start that process. He's doing some things on the side and he's doing some things with the strength coaches and the trainers. I know he's working hard."
- Maye on Rob Gronkowski being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this weekend: " Yeah, it's real cool for me, speaking of being a younger guy with all these players, Julian [Edelman] and Gronk going to the Hall of Fame, guys that I grew up watching, grew up playing with on Madden and having on my fantasy team. I had a Gronk T-shirt jersey growing up, I remember I was a big T-shirt jersey guy in the NFL, wore it to school. So, I'm a big fan of his game. You see a lot of his film come up in the quarterback room of his ability to break tackles, make catches. I think I saw one catch the other day. He made some one-hander against someone, Coach McDaniels says it’s one of the best catches he's ever seen. I think he had something across the middle that Tom threw a little bit late, and he went up and made a one-handed grab near the goal line. So, that's a special player that I've gotten to know with a special personality. Just like I said, another appreciation for, if not the best, one of the best to ever play."
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: What I’m hearing at Gillette Stadium: Wednesday word (Week 9)
