The Patriots will be without a key receiver as they enter the playoffs.
They placed receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve on Saturday with an abdominal injury.
He will be required to miss four games, meaning he won’t be able to return until late in the playoffs, if the Patriots make it that far.
He has caught 46 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns this year.
He has also played 68 percent of the team’s offensive snaps — the most of any receiver.
Hollins recorded seven catches for 69 yards in a win over the Ravens in Baltimore last week, where he seemingly suffered the injury.
He popped up on the injury report after the game and did not practice all week before Saturday’s decision.
Coach Mike Vrabel just praised him on Friday.
“He has an energy to him,” Vrabel said. “And seeing him on Sunday night with the passion he had to help us win; we’ll obviously miss him. I’ve always appreciated his willingness to learn what we’re doing but also be a leader for some of the younger guys.”
The Patriots, sitting at 12-3, are in play to win the AFC East and earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
They will clinch the division with a win over the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday coupled with a loss or tie by the Bills against the Eagles.
If the Patriots win their last two games and the Broncos lose their season finale against the Chargers, the Patriots will earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
