New England Patriots roster cuts: 5 players we are glad to see on the 53-man roster

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

5. Dion Lewis

A fact about Lewis you may not have known: he was signed by the Patriots on New Years Eve last year. So while most Patriots fans hadn’t realized the Pitt product was on the roster before this summer, Lewis has been making his presence felt in the Patriots’ facility for eight months now.

A Danny Woodhead clone at 5-foot-8, 195 pounds, Lewis is perhaps the shiftiest player on the Patriot’s roster. Nobody really thought he would make the 53-man roster as the third-down back, but Lewis played so well this preseason that the Patriots simply couldn’t cut him.

To make room for Lewis along with James White and Travaris Cadet, the Patriots were forced to make the surprise move of cutting Jonas Gray. That goes to show just how much Bill Belichick values the former member of the Eagles, Browns and Colts.

When Lewis caught that slant for a touchdown against the Panthers in the “dress rehearsal” third preseason game, he pretty much locked-up his roster spot. But his time on the active roster may be short-lived, as LeGarrette Blount will return in Week 2 and the Patriots will probably demote one of their other backs to the practice squad.

Lewis will have to showcase the open-field ability he flashed in college to stay relevant as a member of the Patriots.

Next: 4. Chris Harper