Take a look at New England’s first 53-man roster for the 2018 season

2018 Patriots roster cuts: The NFL’s roster cut deadline has come and gone and the New England Patriots are now under the 53-man deadline. In fact www.authenticsnewenglandpatriots.com , the team currently has only 52 players under contract, with one of them – rookie tight end Ryan Izzo – expected to be headed to injured reserve soon. With all that in mind, let’s take a look at the Patriots’ first active roster of the season.Quarterback (2): Tom Brady, Brian HoyerNo surprises at the quarterback position: Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer were the clear-cut top two entering the year, with rookie Danny Etling not showing enough over the summer to warrant a spot on the active roster.Running back (5): James White, Rex Burkhead, Sony Michel, Jeremy Hill, James DevelinOne of the deepest positions on the roster, the running back corps appeared to be set in stone the moment Sony Michel suffered an injury in practice that allowed Jeremy Hill to see additional snaps and make the most out of them. Special teams ace Brandon Bolden has been released but could return at a later point.Wide receiver (4): Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Matthew SlaterThe lightest position on the team features only three pure wide receivers: Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson will all see plenty of playing time until fellow wide receiver Julian Edelman returns from his suspension, and moves to add more depth behind them should be expected over the next few days.Tight end (4): Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, Jacob Hollister, Ryan IzzoEven with Ryan Izzo expected to get moved to injured reserve, this is as solid a tight end group as any in the NFL – especially because of Rob Gronkowski. But even behind the league’s best player at the position, New England is deep with Dwayne Allen a strong blocker and Jacob Hollister a high-upside receiving option.Offensive line (7): Trent Brown, Joe Thuney New England Patriots T-Shirt , David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Ted Karras, LaAdrian WaddleWhile the top five have been set since spring practices, the players behind them had to beat out their competition to earn spots on the team. While Ted Karras and LaAdrian Waddle did just that, New England could still add more backup options especially at offensive tackle.Defensive tackle (4): Malcom Brown, Danny Shelton, Lawrence Guy, Adam ButlerDespite the release of former third-round draft pick Vincent Valentine, the Patriots have plenty of depth at the defensive tackle spot: Malcom Brown and Danny Shelton are the big run stuffers in the middle, with Adam Butler primarily a pass rusher. It will be interesting to see how the team uses Lawrence Guy this year.Defensive edge (6): Trey Flowers, Adrian Clayborn, Deatrich Wise Jr., Derek Rivers, Keionta Davis, Geneo GrissomCompared to last year, the defensive edge might be the most improved position group on New England’s roster: Adrian Clayborn, Derek Rivers and Keionta Davis were all not on the active team one year ago but project to play prominent snaps alongside Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr. in 2018. The Patriots keeping Geneo Grissom around behind the top six is a minor surprise.Linebacker (5): Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Ja’Whaun Bentley New England Patriots Hats , Elandon Roberts, Nicholas GrigsbyRookie Ja’Whaun Bentley being one of the top performers during the preseason is encouraging news for a linebacker corps that looks very similar to the one the Patriots fielded last year. Getting Dont’a Hightower back, however, makes the whole group better.Cornerback (7): Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Jonathan Jones, Jason McCourty, Duke Dawson, J.C. Jackson, Keion CrossenAnother particularly deep group, the Patriots opted to keep seven cornerbacks around. One of them, training camp standout J.C. Jackson keeps New England’s streak of undrafted free agents making the opening day roster alive: for the 15th straight year, an unselected rookie has survived cutdown day. Safety (5): Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Brandon King, Nate EbnerWhile the group looks a bit thin on paper after the trade that sent Jordan Richards to the Atlanta Falcons yesterday, Jason McCourty could serve as an additional depth option behind the starting trio of Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon.Specialists (3): Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Joe CardonaWith rookie punter Corey Bojorquez unable to challenge Ryan Allen during preseason New England Patriots Hoodie , the Patriots elected to keep the same three specialists for another year. Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen and Joe Cardona have worked together since 2015.Reserve/suspended (1): Julian EdelmanInjured reserve (5): Isaiah Wynn, Christian Sam, Ulrick John, Darren Andrews, Cody Hollister Kacy Rodgers missed being around the players and coaches the most while not knowing when he'd feel well enough to be back.A health scare sidelined the New York Jets defensive coordinator for two games — a tense few weeks for Rodgers, who was medically cleared and returned to work this week on a full-time basis."Walking in the locker room (Sunday) and seeing the guys, it's just good to be back, it really is," Rodgers said Thursday while speaking to reporters for the first time since coming back to work.Bowles announced on Oct. 5 that Rodgers was dealing with something "serious" after visiting the doctor the previous day. The 49-year-old Rodgers underwent tests and then had what he called "a procedure" and was able to do some office work at the team's facility last week."It was kind of bothering me, and it was something that we had to get checked out," Rodgers said. "So I had a procedure last Monday, and then I got the results back this Monday. Everything came back good, so we're good to go."Rodgers declined to provide details about the exact nature of his illness, saying he preferred to keep it private."I really don't want to say that right now," he said. "I feel a lot better. I really do. It's good to be back and getting back in the swing of things. We knew the procedure and we felt confident going in that it would be taken care of and we would know the results."He surprised the players by attending the Jets' victory over Indianapolis last Sunday and broke down the team's postgame huddle in the locker room."Sometimes you take for granted what it is to be around the guys and be with them every day," Rodgers said, "and the family unit it becomes."Rodgers has been out on the field during practice this week, but it's uncertain if he will call the defensive plays in his usual role Sunday against Minnesota."Him getting back into it was easy," Bowles said. "He was in the building last week doing tedious things, but getting back into it is pretty good. He's back at game-planning normally. We are all in meetings and we will decide that probably tomorrow or Saturday who is going to call it."After Bowles knew Rodgers wouldn't be able to coach against Denver two weeks ago Youth Customized New England Patriots Jerseys , he announced the bad news to the team.Several of the players reached out to their coach, and he thought it was "truly touching" to hear from so many well-wishers."I got a lot of texts from all the guys," he said before smiling. "What's kind of ironic is, I coach the defense, but I had just as many offensive guys reaching out."But then came the tough part: watching the Jets beat the Broncos 34-16 from his couch at home."That's kind of a hard, hard feeling," Rodgers said.To a man, the defensive players said they dedicated their play — and the victory — to Rodgers that day.He felt well enough to attend the game last Sunday at MetLife Stadium and was able to mingle with the players before kickoff. Rodgers then sat in the coaches' booth while wearing the radio headset, but was only what Bowles described as "a casual observer.""You never want to be a distraction to the team," Rodgers said. "Everybody else was having to pick up (the slack) with me away from the coaching staff. Todd had to do more and the rest of the assistants had to do more. For the players to know they've got a job to do, I feel like I'm hindering them."It was what Rodgers called a "weird" experience and added he didn't want to be "a detriment" to the team.After the game, several players such as Morris Claiborne, Darron Lee and Jamal Adams said seeing Rogers really lifted them up emotionally."That's priceless," Rodgers said. "To know they were thinking about me while they were trying to do their jobs really means a lot."Rodgers was also able to joke about the success Bowles had running the defense in his absence — both victories."Dang," Rodgers said with a big laugh, "I need to stay away more often."NOTES: CBs Buster Skrine (concussion) and Trumaine Johnson (quadriceps), WRs Terrelle Pryor (groin) and Quincy Enunwa (sprained ankle), RB Isaiah Crowell (foot) and S Marcus Maye (broken thumb) didn't practice. Only Enunwa and Maye have already been ruled out against Minnesota. ... LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (foot) was limited after sitting out Wednesday. ... WR Robby Anderson (hamstring) and Leon Williams (back) were full after not practicing Wednesday, and C Spencer Long (knee/finger) was also full after being limited. ... RB De'Angelo Henderson was re-signed to the practice squad and LB Harvey Langi was played on practice squad injured reserve.