What happened: New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins returned to practice on Wednesday. Hollins was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 10 due to a calf injury. His return to the field begins his 21-day activation window.

Why it matters: New England sits at 5-3 and prepares for an upcoming contest against the Green Bay Packers. Hollins functioned as a dependable target and key special-teams contributor through the first month of the regular season. Getting him back bolsters perimeter depth ahead of the second-half stretch.

What to watch: The Patriots will evaluate Hollins during practice this week before determining whether to activate him against Green Bay.