In an exciting development for the New England Patriots, wide receiver Mack Hollins has officially been activated from injured reserve to join the 53-man roster. This move comes after Hollins was sidelined on December 27, following a season where he participated in all but one of the team's first 15 games.
But that’s not all—there have been several additional roster changes as well. The Patriots have placed defensive tackle Eric Gregory on injured reserve, while elevating running back D'Ernest Johnson and defensive end Leonard Taylor III to the active roster from the practice squad for the second consecutive week. In a surprising turn of events, wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. has been released from the practice squad.
D'Ernest Johnson, who is 29 years old, has had a varied journey this season, moving between the practice squad and the main roster. He has participated in seven games, where he recorded 13 rushing attempts totaling 25 yards, along with five kickoff returns that gained 128 yards. Johnson significantly contributed during the Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Chargers on January 11 before being released on January 12. Shortly thereafter, he was signed back to the practice squad on January 13. Now in his seventh NFL season, Johnson has played for various teams including the Cleveland Browns from 2019 to 2022, the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, and the Arizona Cardinals also in 2025. Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 205 pounds, he first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of the University of South Florida, making a mark with the Browns before continuing his career with other franchises.
Leonard Taylor III, aged 23, has been elevated to the active roster multiple times this season and participated in both postseason games, though he did not record any tackles in those matches. Over the regular season, he tallied nine tackles. Taylor joined the Patriots practice squad on October 16, 2025, after initially starting his professional career with the New York Jets, signing with them as a rookie free agent from the University of Miami in 2024. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Taylor has appeared in 19 NFL games, accumulating 35 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and deflecting two passes. He was released by the Jets after two games in 2025 but has since found a new opportunity with New England.
Trent Sherfield, also 29, brings a wealth of experience to the field, having spent eight seasons in the NFL with teams such as Arizona, San Francisco, Miami, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Denver. The 6-foot, 203-pound receiver first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Vanderbilt in 2018. Throughout his career, Sherfield has played in 124 games, starting 14 and recording 89 receptions for a total of 1,034 yards and six touchdowns. After signing with Denver as a free agent this past offseason, he played ten games, starting three and catching three passes for 21 yards. Following his release from the Broncos on November 15, he briefly returned to Arizona's practice squad before signing with the Patriots on January 13.
As these roster moves unfold, it raises questions about the strategic decisions being made by the Patriots. What do you think of these changes? Are they setting up for a strong playoff run, or do you see potential pitfalls? Share your thoughts!
