The Patriots have made the strangest roster move so far. They've released Jonas Gray, and with the season opener against the Steelers only five days away, they have no true running back. LeGarrette Blount, recall, is suspended for that game.
New England, meanwhile, kept all four of the smaller running backs competing to fill their third-down role. Dion Lewis, I thought, looked pretty good in the preseason. James White also seems to be an acceptable fit for that role.
They've still got Brandon Bolden, but he's more of a limited special teams player -- kind of poor man's version of BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
And the big shocker (to me) was that Travaris Cadet was able to make it through the cuts, even though he's been out hurt all summer. Lewis and White look pretty good to me, so with Cadet still around, I take that as a sign that there's something about him that they like.
Lewis, I suppose, is probably the favorite to be the main back in the opening game.
—Ian Allan
