McBride reported that tantalizing running back Dion Lewis won’t be around for at least a couple of months because he needs a second surgery on his knee. He tore his ACL last Nov. 8 and is currently on the physically unable to perform list. Assuming Lewis remains on PUP, he will have to miss at least the first six games of the regular season.

It’s a good thing we waited until Sunday afternoon to do our second Patriots 53-man roster projection of the preseason. Because in a matter of three tweets from colleague Jim McBride, the complexion of the roster changed significantly.


McBride also reported that guard Shaq Mason, a likely starter, suffered a broken hand and his return is unknown. And that right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who has been on the PUP list all training camp, is likely headed to injured reserve because of his injury.

So if you’re counting at home, the Tom Brady-less Patriots will be without their third-most important offensive weapon and two-fifths of their starting offensive line for at least the first chunk of the season, if not more.

And we still have half of the preseason to go.

Good luck, Jimmy Garoppolo.

With that, here is how we see the 53-man roster taking shape (* — will not count toward the 53-man roster because of suspension, PUP, or IR):

Offense (24 players)

Quarterback (2) — Brady*, Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett.

Analysis: The Patriots have no plans to add a fourth quarterback, and why should they? They’re having a tough enough time finding practice snaps for all three guys. Brissett has been an observer for large chunks of camp, although Brady’s thumb injury could help Brissett get a lot more work now.

Running back (5) — Lewis*, LeGarrette Blount, James White, Tyler Gaffney, James Develin, Brandon Bolden.


Analysis: With Lewis starting the season on PUP, the Patriots will take an all-hands-on-deck approach to try to replace his production. Lewis’s injury all but locks in Blount and White on the roster. Bolden is an unspectacular runner but pretty dependable, and he’s solid on special teams. Gaffney is a 220-pounder who churns the most yards after contact among the running backs. And Develin can contribute as a fullback or tight end and play special teams. Veteran Donald Brown and rookie D.J. Foster haven’t played in the last two weeks and haven’t shown us anything to merit spots.

Wide receiver (5) — Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Malcolm Mitchell, Keshawn Martin.

Analysis: Again, this is a position where injuries will determine who makes the team. For now, we’ve got the four veterans, plus rookie Mitchell, as the wide receiver unit. But Amendola is on PUP, and Mitchell is a candidate for injured reserve-return with a sprained elbow. Should Amendola or Mitchell land on a reserve list to start the regular season, it could open a spot for Aaron Dobson or Chris Harper. But neither is impressing of late or making a strong case to be kept.

Tight end (3) — Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, A.J. Derby.

Analysis: Derby has been the superstar of the preseason and has a roster spot locked up, in our view. He’s big, athletic, and makes great catches in traffic. We have Clay Harbor losing out to Derby as a surprise cut, mostly because the Patriots need more reinforcements at running back and offensive line.


Offensive line (9) — Mason, Vollmer*, Nate Solder, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Marcus Cannon, Josh Kline, LaAdrian Waddle, Ted Karras, Jonathan Cooper, Tre’ Jackson*.

Analysis: Even with Vollmer pretty much out of the equation, we have a tough time finding a spot for Bryan Stork. He appears to be losing the center battle with Andrews and he hasn’t been as consistent from a performance or injury standpoint as Kline or Karras. But Stork could be saved by Cooper’s foot injury or Mason’s broken hand. If either one ends up as the Patriots’ IR-return designation, the Patriots should have room to keep Stork as a backup center and guard. Jackson is also still on PUP, and the Patriots may as well carry him until they’re forced to make a decision.

Defense (23 players)

Defensive end (5) — Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich, Chris Long, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom.

Analysis: The Patriots have so many injured players that they’ll probably have to carry Ninkovich (torn triceps) on the 53-man roster, even if he misses the first three or four games. But this position is pretty well set, with Shea McClellin and Dont’a Hightower also able to contribute. Flowers has taken a clear step ahead of Grissom on the depth chart.

Defensive tackle (4) — Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Vincent Valentine, Markus Kuhn.

Analysis: This is another tough one. Our brain says Terrance Knighton is safe after signing an incentive-laden, one-year contract in the offseason. But our eyes tell us that Knighton hasn’t been playing well in the preseason, that the Patriots already have three other run-cloggers in Brown, Branch, and Valentine, and that Kuhn has been a nice surprise. The Patriots also use Sheard, Long, and Flowers as interior rushers on obvious passing downs. Knighton seems like a player to monitor over the next two weeks.


Linebacker (4) — Hightower, McClellin, Jamie Collins, Jonathan Freeny.

Analysis: This position doesn’t need to be as deep because Ninkovich, Patrick Chung, and Kamu Grugier-Hill can all fill in at the position. A more athletic Freeny beats out Ramon Humber and Rufus Johnson for the fourth spot.

Cornerback (5) — Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Cyrus Jones, Justin Coleman, Cre’von LeBlanc.

Analysis: The top four positions are set, and the fifth spot appears to be a battle between LeBlanc and Darryl Roberts, who have played far more snaps than Jonathan Jones, V’Angelo Bentley, and E.J. Biggers in the preseason games. LeBlanc had an impressive interception against the Saints and provided solid run support against the Bears, so he gets the spot for now. But Roberts had two nice pass breakups against the Bears and has a real shot.

Safety (5) — Chung, Grugier-Hill, Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Jordan Richards.

Analysis: With Nate Ebner and Brandon King counting as special teams players, the Patriots will keep every safety on the roster except for Vinnie Sunseri. And frankly, don’t be surprised if Sunseri sticks around as a special teams player, too.

Special teams (6 players)

Kicker — Stephen Gostkowski; punter — Ryan Allen; long snapper — Joe Cardona; special teamers — Ebner, King, Matthew Slater.


Analysis: The specialists are set, and Slater and Ebner are locks. King is not quite a given, but he’s one of the best special teams players Bill Belichick has ever coached, and he has the ability to be a backup at linebacker and safety.

Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin.