GREEN BAY, WIS – So much for rookie jitters. Fourth-round draft pick Mack Hollins, bumped up in the wide receiver rotation with Alshon Jeffery held out of Thursday night's preseason opener at Green Bay, made an immediate impact.
On the team's first offensive drive, Hollins caught a Carson Wentz pass on a crossing route and turned it into a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead at Lambeau Field. Hollins broke two tackles on the play and danced down the sideline for the touchdown.
It was a scintillating way to start for Hollins, who finished his night with four catches for 64 yards in his Eagles preseason debut.
"Well, I wanted to win, that's what we came here to do so I'm disappointed with that. On a personal level, it went pretty well out there," Hollins said. "I had some opportunities and fortunately I was able to make plays. On that touchdown, Carson found me in the middle of the field and I caught it and ran. I was ready to go. Nerves at first, as always when I play, but as soon as I hit someone I am fine.
"It was fun out there. The tempo is a little bit different than Training Camp, but I got used to it."
Hollins is among the new faces at wide receiver for the Eagles, who overhauled the position in the offseason by adding Jeffery and Torrey Smith in free agency and then selected Hollins and Shelton Gibson in the draft.
Suddenly, the Eagles have a deep and talented group at wide receiver after last season's unit ranked 31st in the NFL in receiving yards.
Hollins wasn't the least bit awed playing in his first preseason game.
"I practice against great players every day, so this was nothing different," he said. "The way we practice gets you ready to play the games, so it was not a big adjustment at all. First game, that's all. I look at it like a start, but I have to follow it up and keep making plays when I get my number called."
The Eagles fell to the Packers in their first preseason game in Green Bay. Check out these photos from the road...