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Every Tuesday on ESPNBoston.com, questions from New England Patriots followers are answered as part of a weekly mailbag. This week's mailbag has been posted and includes some of the following topics:

1. How the Patriots might recover from losing defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

2. Did the Patriots make a mistake by not having Rob Gronkowski on the physically unable to perform list?

3. Cornerback Aqib Talib and the possibility of a contract extension.

4. The Broncos' early-season success and how it all matches up against the Patriots.

5. Rookie receiver Josh Boyce and his progress.

Tom Brady will take the field Sunday without his top five pass-catchers from last season (assuming Rob Gronkowski is out), a storyline that’s been followed closely during training camp and the preseason.

Among his targets are five rookies, a new slot receiver with big shoes to fill and few familiar faces.

Still, with Brady at quarterback, you can bet the yardage and touchdowns will pile up. But who will be on the receiving end? More than any season in Bill Belichick’s tenure as coach, that answer is difficult to project.

So we asked our two Patriots reporters to take a crack at it. Here’s how they see it playing out:

Based on numbers from previous seasons, we’re projecting Brady to throw for 4,700 yards with 400 completions and 35 touchdown passes. How will those stats be distributed among individual pass-catchers?

Reiss' breakdown: If it works out like this, it’s a reflection of a successful passing game because the production is well distributed. I would have put Amendola over the 100-catch mark if there was a guarantee he’d be on the field for 16 games. So I played it a little conservatively with him, even though I think he’s primed for a big season. Had the weighted scale on Gronkowski given his health and projecting he might only play 10-14 games. Thompkins looks ready to emerge as the team’s No. 2 or 3 receiver over rookies Boyce and Dobson, so he lands higher on the list. Vereen could have a Kevin Faulk-presence in the passing game from the running back spot.

Yates' breakdown: Just how do the Patriots overcome the loss of Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Lloyd?

It starts with the addition of Amendola, who should have a Welker-like season. The kicker for Amendola is playing 16 games, and we’ll stick by our summer prediction of him achieving that mark while surpassing the 110-catch plateau.

On Gronkowski, while a Week 1 return has effectively been ruled out, a late September reappearance looks more likely. We’re projecting at least 13 games played for the big tight end, with Sudfeld expected to hold the fort in the interim. The difference between this year’s passing game and last’s is the emergence of a more reliable three-receiver set, as Thompkins and Edelman have what it takes to support Amendola in “11” personnel groupings.

4,700 yards would be no small accomplishment for this turned-over receiving corps, but part of what it lost in experience it gained in dynamic run-after-catch ability. That was an area that Lloyd provided little in throughout much of the 2012 season, but Thompkins and Edelman should enhance.

Your turn: How would you distribute the Patriots' catches (400), receiving yards (4,700) and touchdown catches (35)? Share your predictions in the comments section. At the end of the season, we’ll recognize the reader who was closest to the actual numbers.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels held conference calls this afternoon.

From a “what we learned” perspective heading into Sunday’s season opener against the Bills, here are some highlights:

1. Bills’ defense has Jet-like feel: As one would expect with coordinator Mike Pettine moving from the Jets to the Bills this year, Buffalo’s defense looks “a lot like the Jets,” according to Belichick. That means a lot of different looks (especially on third down, when a defensive lineman could play a linebacker-type role), multiple fronts, and a heavy percentage of blitzing. So as Patriots offensive players prepare this week, they are marrying two areas: Bills personnel that they’ve come to know in recent years playing a Jet-like scheme.

2. Scouting report on Mulligan: Asked about signing 28-year-old tight end Matthew Mulligan to the 53-man active roster, Belichick cited his experience and blocking ability before saying, “he’s a tough, physical player.”

3. A lot of no-huddle on offense from Bills: There is an element of unknown with any season opener, which Belichick repeated multiple times, but one thing the Patriots are most certainly expecting from the Bills is the no-huddle attack. “It’s really all no-huddle,” Belichick said of what he’s seen from the Bills’ offense, later adding the Bills’ fast pace on offense draws some similarities to the Eagles under Chip Kelly which the Patriots practiced against in August. Another point Belichick made was that there isn’t a lot of NFL-based film for the team to watch of Bills rookie quarterbacks EJ Manuel and Jeff Tuel.

4. Pleased with Talib’s presence. Patricia, the defensive coordinator, said he is “very, very happy” with cornerback Aqib Talib’s work ethic and approach. The Patriots acquired Talib last November, so as time has passed, coaches have had a longer look at Talib's integration into the team’s system and way of doing business. “He really practices hard and competes every day,” Patricia said. “He’s a good example out on the field for those guys that are coming into our program to get behind and follow along.”

5. Young receivers have grasped multiple roles. It is often said that the Patriots' complex offensive system can be tough for rookies to pick up, so it was notable that McDaniels, the offensive coordinator, said that receivers Kenbrell Thompkins (undrafted), Josh Boyce (fourth round) and Aaron Dobson (second round) have all grasped multiple positions. "We've already moved them and played multiple roles with them, multiple positions with them," he said. "In our system, that's a really big 'plus' for us to have some flexibility with those guys. They've shown that they'll work and study on the mental side of the game to be able to be flexible and play in multiple spots when we need them to."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Another busy day with the New England Patriots, who practiced for the second straight day, this time in light shoulder pads and helmets. There is no scheduled practice Tuesday.

Here is a recap of some of the big news of the day.

Who's in: CB Marquice Cole; TE Matthew Mulligan (not official, but expected to be after he tried out for the team)

Who's out: FB James Develin

Thoughts on moves: One day after waiving Cole, the Patriots brought him back. It looked like a case where the intention was to bring him back regardless and they just needed a roster spot for a day. There have been a lot of moving parts on the roster with waiver claims and there is an element of strategy in play when it comes to putting together the practice squad.

Following up on Gronkowski: For the second straight day, tight end Rob Gronkowski joined his teammates at the start of practice. He once again went through warmups. After practice, Bill Belichick said, "He's definitely moving forward." Yet when asked if he viewed Gronkowski's presence at practice the last two days as a significant step, Belichick wouldn't go that far. He simply called it the "next step."

One spot open on practice squad. The Patriots finalized the signings of receiver Quentin Sims and offensive tackle R.J. Dill to the practice squad. They join the previously announced signings of safety Kanorris Davis, cornerback Justin Green, defensive lineman Marcus Forston and linebackers Je'Gared Davis and Jeff Tarpinian. The Patriots have one open spot on the practice squad, which could go to guard Josh Kline should he clear waivers.

Locker room feel: Running back LeGarrette Blount, receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, linebacker Jerod Mayo, cornerback Aqib Talib and safety Devin McCourty were among the players drawing larger media crowds. Blount's potential presence as the Patriots' top kickoff returner was notable, especially after the release of Leon Washington. There aren't many 250-pound kickoff returners in the NFL. Blount and rookie receiver Josh Boyce are two of the team's top options.

Mayo brings the humor. Mayo kept things light, standing on the chair in front of his locker and announcing his presence. When media members were slow to make their way to his locker, he considered leaving, joking that it was similar to when a substitute teacher wasn't on time for a college class and students elected for a quick exit. That set the tone for an interview that was light-hearted at times. Mayo was asked if he remembered his first game as a rookie, and he couldn't come up with any details. "Who did we play the first game of '08?" he asked. When told it was the Chiefs, and that it was a game many Patriots followers prefer to forget because of Tom Brady's knee injury, Mayo stopped in his tracks. "Oooooh, you're right. We don't talk about that," he said.

Looking ahead. Belichick and coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia will hold conference calls Tuesday afternoon.

Quick-hit thoughts on the NFL and the New England Patriots:

1. The Patriots kept just two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, marking the fourth time in the past five years they have done so. How does that compare to the other teams in the NFL? By my count, here is the breakdown for 2013 after Saturday’s cut-downs:

Four quarterbacks: three teams
Three quarterbacks: 15 teams
Two quarterbacks: 14 teams

The next step that will be interesting to monitor is how many of the 14 teams with just two quarterbacks add a third to their practice squad.

2. With all seven draft choices making the Patriots’ initial roster, plus five undrafted players, that initially gives the club 12 of its 51 spots filled by rookies. Add in six draft picks from last year still on the roster, plus 2012 undrafted running back Brandon Bolden, and that’s 19 players within their first two years in the NFL (35 percent of a 53-man roster). The Patriots have a solid veteran core, and trend older at some positions (defensive tackle, for example), but all in all, this is a very young team.

3. Let’s play the armchair-general-manager game for the Patriots when it comes to their defensive tackle need and see if we can hit the bull's-eye. Here were a few players at the position we could envision being of interest to the Patriots on the waiver wire:

Marvin Austin (Giants): The second-round pick out of North Carolina in 2011 hasn’t panned out, as his rookie season was wiped out by a torn pectoral muscle and he didn't break through last year. He is 6-foot-2 and 312 pounds. As ESPN Giants reporter Dan Graziano noted, the Giants are pretty deep at defensive tackle, so part of Austin’s release was a numbers game.

Kheeston Randall (Dolphins): The 6-foot-5, 309-pounder who played collegiately at Texas appeared in 12 games for Miami last season. He was a 2012 seventh-round pick and has some physical traits (e.g. long arms) that might have some appeal to New England.

Adam Replogle (Falcons): The undrafted rookie is 6-3 and 310 pounds, and started the final 47 games of his collegiate career at Indiana, where he was known for his work ethic and reliability. Patriots defensive line coach Patrick Graham had worked him out before the draft.

Torell Troup (Bills): He has battled injuries in the past but has some physical traits (6-3, 327) that could be appealing as a bigger-bodied backup to Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly. Bill Belichick got to know him well on his annual pre-draft scouting trip in 2010. Troup, who played at Central Florida, was picked by the Bills in the second round that year. He has some partially guaranteed money in his contract, so it might be smarter, if interested, for the Patriots to see if he clears waivers and then bring him in.

4. While the Patriots are extremely thin at defensive tackle, which they figure to address with one of their open roster spots, it led us to check in on former New England tackles Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick in Jacksonville. Both made the Jaguars’ initial 53-man roster and are backups to Sen'Derrick Marks and Roy Miller, who were signed as unrestricted free agents this offseason. Deaderick missed the first two games of the preseason with a groin injury, but is now healthy. Looking back, it’s only natural to wonder if the Patriots have any regret in parting ways with Love and Deaderick, as they created a void without having the reinforcements in place. In fairness, they were counting on Armond Armstead to play an integral role, but he later landed on the reserve/non-football illness list (he’s out at least the first six weeks of the season) after undergoing surgery for an infection.

4b. One more check-in: Patriots 2009 second-round draft choice Ron Brace didn’t make the initial 53-man roster with the Redskins. Given the depth questions at defensive tackle, would the Patriots consider bringing him back? Our guess: They probably look elsewhere.

5. Given the makeup of their initial roster -- with six receivers, five running backs, one fullback and three tight ends (one of whom, Rob Gronkowski, won’t be ready for the season opener) -- the Patriots figure to trend more toward three-receiver and two-back sets than multiple-tight-end packages early in the season. So while this is a team that has a reputation as a two-tight-end offense, which goes back to 2011 with the dynamic duo of Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, the early part of this season is likely to have a different look. For the Sept. 8 opener at Buffalo, the three-receiver grouping might turn out to be the best matchup anyway, as the Bills are hurting at cornerback and it could hit their stress points from a depth perspective.

6. With Elvis Dumervil now in Baltimore, and Von Miller facing a six-game suspension to open the year, what’s left for the Broncos at defensive end? The free-agent signing of veteran Shaun Phillips looks more significant now, as Denver will count on him to help fill the void along with Derek Wolfe (2012 second-round pick out of Cincinnati) and Malik Jackson (2012 fifth-round pick out of Tennessee). One lingering question is if the Broncos will be able to generate enough pass rush. As for Phillips, he jumped to the Broncos after spending the first nine years of his career with the Chargers, putting him in almost the same position as linebacker Daryl Smith, who signed with the Ravens after spending the first nine years of his career with the Jaguars. Both are stepping into important roles -- Phillips helping fill the Miller void and Smith part of the puzzle to account for Ray Lewis’ absence -- which is a neat storyline for the Denver/Baltimore NFL season opener.

7. When it comes to the Patriots’ rookie receivers, I think the pace of their progression goes in the reverse order of how they arrived: Undrafted Kenbrell Thompkins is furthest along, followed by speedy fourth-round pick Josh Boyce (Texas Christian) and then second-rounder Aaron Dobson (Marshall). The thought occurred to me as Thompkins was given the veteran treatment in the second half of Thursday's preseason finale, watching from the sideline as Boyce and Dobson were still on the field playing.

8. With news that the Bills signed center Eric Wood to a long-term contract extension, it served as a reminder that he was a player I believe the Patriots had targeted as one of their ideal choices in the 2009 draft. That was the year the team traded down twice -- from 23 (Michael Oher) to 26 (Clay Matthews) to 34, where they selected safety Patrick Chung. Had Wood been on the board at 34, I think he would have received strong consideration. Had they stuck at 26, maybe they would have taken him there. Not that the Patriots are currently hurting at center, as Ryan Wendell has developed into a solid starter, but there was a lot of smoke around the Patriots and Wood that year.

9. The Raiders did what I thought the Patriots might by keeping two punters on their initial 53-man roster, as they view both Chris Kluwe and Marquette King as assets. The thinking, it appears, is that maybe the Raiders could trade one of them for a draft pick, although it's hard to imagine that unfolding. As for New England, rookie Ryan Allen was so impressive that the Patriots didn’t think he would clear waivers so they could bring him back on the practice squad (I thought that maybe by waiting a week or two, it would have a better chance of happening). So instead of keeping two, they just kept Allen and said goodbye to Zoltan Mesko, who should be punting somewhere in the NFL this season. He didn’t lose the job as much as Allen won it.

10. Patriots players return to the practice field today and tomorrow. They were off Saturday, as owner Robert Kraft hosted his annual before-the-season party for players and their families on Cape Cod. The Patriots will also practice Monday, before a day off Tuesday.

Later today, the New England Patriots will finalize the first iteration of their 53-man roster. But the player puzzle doesn’t end there, as the team will begin constructing its practice squad, which can be up to eight players, on Sunday.

It would be no surprise for the Patriots to bring aboard players waived by other teams as members of their practice squad, but the unit will also likely include players waived by the team Saturday.

Below is a look at all current Patriots who still have practice-squad eligibility:

P Ryan Allen
DT Armond Armstead (on reserve/PUP)
LB Steve Beauharnais
DE Jake Bequette
WR Josh Boyce
DE Michael Buchanan
LB Jamie Collins
LB Ja'Gared Davis
S Kanorris Davis
WR Aaron Dobson
DT Marcus Forston
DB Justin Green
DT Cory Grissom (on injured reserve)
S Duron Harmon
WR Mark Harrison (on reserve/PUP)
G Josh Kline
C/G Chris McDonald
CB Logan Ryan
WR Quentin Sims
TE Zach Sudfeld
LB Jeff Tarpinian
WR Kenbrell Thompkins
DT Joe Vellano
RB George Winn
OL Markus Zusevics (on injured reserve)

Picked-up pieces from second-quarter review of the Patriots' 28-20 win over the Giants in the preseason finale:

1. Quarterback Ryan Mallett's two best throws of the night were his 15-yard strike to Kenbrell Thompkins on third-and-13 early in the second quarter and the 40-yard touchdown to Josh Boyce on the next series. On the first play, Mallett was in the shotgun, with backs to both sides of him. He received excellent protection against a four-man rush, which was the key so Thompkins’ downfield route could develop. Good execution all around -- from the protection, to Mallett stepping up into the pocket and delivering a strike, and Thompkins with some smooth work at the top of his deep in-cut. On both plays, which needed time to develop, the credit starts with the offensive line. This group was competitive after struggling the week before in Detroit.

2. Adrian Wilson blitzed a lot in the game both from a linebacker-type role in sub packages and coming into the box when initially lining up as more of a deep safety, and he also was on the kickoff coverage unit and the punt team. On Michael Cox's 38-yard return early in the second quarter, Wilson lost containment, as Cox was able to get to the sideline to earn the final 15 yards or so. It looked like Wilson reacted a bit slowly, which showed up at times defensively last week in Detroit as well. Overall, as mentioned in the first-quarter thoughts, the Patriots got a good look at Wilson as a blitzer in this game. His best blitz probably came at 8:07 of the second quarter when he surged through the defensive right side and helped clean up a half-sack by Michael Buchanan and Jeff Tarpinian.

3. An 18-yard catch-and-run to Boyce with 4:04 remaining was negated by a pass interference penalty on receiver Aaron Dobson, and it was an issue of timing. Dobson started blocking too early as he got into his route, not waiting for the play to develop. On the play, Boyce, Dobson and Thompkins all aligned to the left of the formation. The timing of the play seemed disrupted from the time the ball was snapped, with not every receiver getting off the line at the same time. It’s been said that there will be some growing pains with the young receivers and this play was a good example of it.

4. Cornerback Marquice Cole is a player who showed up multiple times, both in the passing game and running game. He could have been a consideration in the after-the-game “ups and downs” entry.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Picked-up pieces after reviewing the first quarter of the Patriots' 28-20 preseason win over the Giants:

1. It seemed like the Patriots wanted to take a closer look at veteran safety Adrian Wilson and his effectiveness as a blitzer. Wilson blitzed on the first play of the game (the ball was out quickly) and then on the third-and-7 play (incomplete pass) that ended the Giants’ second drive. On the second blitz, Wilson was met by running back Andre Brown and ridden out of the play, as quarterback Eli Manning stepped up to make his throw on the run. Then there was a third blitz from Wilson on the Giants’ opening play of the third drive (off the defensive left side), when Manning completed a 37-yard pass to receiver Louis Murphy as Wilson was again picked up by running back David Wilson. He then blitzed again on the Giants’ touchdown later in the quarter (wasn’t close to disrupting the play). As the Patriots consider whether Wilson has a spot on their 53-man roster, I could envision them looking at these blitzes today and attempting to determine if Wilson can help them in that role.

2. Rookie defensive end Michael Buchanan (6-6, 255) was disruptive off the defensive left side, showing good power and multiple pass-rush moves, as well as how his long arms can affect passing lanes for opposing quarterbacks. In addition, he showed strength and technique to effectively set the edge, which is a necessity for any end (4-3) or outside linebacker (3-4) in the team’s scheme. We got a good look at that on the Giants’ second offensive play when Buchanan locked up with pulling guard Chris Snee, held his ground, and kept Wilson hemmed in as he was stopped for a modest 1-yard gain.

3. A good contrast to that play was seen later in the quarter on Wilson’s 16-yard run on a pitch from Manning around left end. The Patriots’ run force broke down, with right end Jake Bequette taking his first step inside, which was enough to lose containment. With linebacker Dane Fletcher also sealed off by left tackle Will Beatty, and cornerback Marquice Cole cleared out of the area because he was covering receiver Hakeem Nicks, it left a wide swath of real estate for Wilson. Some credit goes to the Giants for a well-blocked run, but it looked like it also could have been executed better from the Patriots’ standpoint. Later in the second quarter, Bequette set a nice edge against tight end Brandon Myers on a run for minus-3 yards.

4. The top seven offensive linemen appear set for the Patriots (Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Will Svitek), so I spent some time watching the reserves beyond that to see if anyone stood out. Center Matt Stankiewitch (6-4, 305) would be the choice. The first play might have been his worst -- he was pushed back into quarterback Ryan Mallett by Linval Joseph -- but he seemed to settle in nicely over the remainder of the first quarter against first-unit competition. His athleticism to get to the second level of the defense was seen on receiver Josh Boyce’s 18-yard reverse, when he sealed off linebacker Dan Connor. A nice play like that was later balanced off by failing to hold his block against defensive tackle Mike Patterson as Patterson pressured Mallett early in the second quarter. Like most rookies, Stankiewitch will benefit from some physical development, but he showed a scrappiness that made us take note.

5. There is a risk-reward that comes with every blitz, and the risk was evidenced on the Giants’ first touchdown. On third-and-2 from the Patriots 3-yard line, the defense sent seven rushers. That created a man-to-man situation with receivers and defensive backs, with rookie cornerback Logan Ryan matched up against Nicks. The rush didn’t get there and Manning had time to lock in on Nicks to complete a relatively easy touchdown. If you’re going to send seven, that’s a case where the rush has to get there quickly to help out the defensive backs. Didn’t happen in that case.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Some leftovers from Thursday night's preseason finale for the Patriots:

23 players dress but don't play: On a night when the second- and third-unit players received the playing time, the following 23 players dressed for the game but didn't play, which is a reflection that their place on the roster is safe: WR Julian Edelman, QB Tom Brady, WR Matthew Slater, RB Stevan Ridley, CB Kyle Arrington, S Steve Gregory, RB LeGarrette Blount, CB Aqib Talib, S Devin McCourty, RB Shane Vereen, CB Alfonzo Dennard, RB Brandon Bolden, DE Rob Ninkovich, LB Jerod Mayo, LB Brandon Spikes, C Ryan Wendell, G Logan Mankins, DT Vince Wilfork, OT Sebastian Vollmer, LT Nate Solder, WR Danny Amendola, DT Tommy Kelly, DE Chandler Jones.

Mallett says he'll be ready. No. 2 quarterback Ryan Mallett was the lone player to hold a news conference after the game, and he assessed his preseason. "I felt good. I felt in command of the offense," he said. "Made a few plays, missed a few that I should have made, but that just comes with playing more. ... If I get called on, I'll be ready."

Boyce's best night of preseason. Rookie receiver Josh Boyce had easily his best performance of the preseason, with a 40-yard touchdown catch and also two rushes for 21 yards. He adds an element of speed to the Patriots and has the versatility to line up outside or in the slot. The touchdown came after a stop-and-go move, Mallett delivering a beautiful pass down the left sideline. "Josh ran a great route," Mallett said. "I wasn't even looking to his side at first. The coverage took me over there and he went and made a great play. I had all day to throw the ball, so you couldn't ask for [more]. It couldn't have been drawn up better than that."

Buchanan also with a breakthrough. Playing from wire to wire, rookie defensive end Michael Buchanan (seventh round, Illinois) was a disruptive presence with 2.5 sacks, four tackles, one pass defended and a forced fumble. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, with long arms, Buchanan was hard to miss on the edge. "I'd definitely say that was the most comfortable I've felt," Buchanan said, before assessing his overall progression since the start of training camp. "I made a lot of improvements. I think I have a good grasp on this defense and some of what my role on this team may be, but I still have a long way to go."

Belichick shuts things down. Perhaps because the first topic brought up to Bill Belichick after the game was the recent Rolling Stone article on Aaron Hernandez -- about which he deflected multiple queries -- the New England coach seemed a bit punchy in his post-game news conference. Asked if reporters should read into the presence of specific players on the field late in the game, he replied, "I look at how they play. Look at it however you want, I don't care. Look at it upside down or backwards if you want. I'm just trying to look at how they play."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- At an initial glance, here's a look at players whose performance stood out in the New England Patriots' preseason finale against the New York Giants, and others at the opposite end of the spectrum:

UP

Josh Boyce: Rookie receiver shows his speed on 40-yard touchdown catch on a nice throw from quarterback Ryan Mallett, as the Patriots also work him into the running game a bit.

Michael Buchanan: Rookie defensive end shows up with a few nice rushes and reaches up to bat down a pass.

Zoltan Mesko/Ryan Allen: Both punters are on top of their games, which highlights what has been a good competition throughout training camp.

DOWN

Aaron Dobson: Rookie receiver doesn't seem to fight hard enough for an underthrown Mallett pass in the end zone that is intercepted and then overturned on replay when it is determined Prince Amukamara didn't stay in bounds.

Josh Kline/interior O-line: Some spotty protection for Tim Tebow in the third quarter.

Leon Washington: Fumbles punt that is recovered by the Giants in the third quarter. Although a 43-yard return in the second quarter is solid.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Sharing some thoughts at halftime of the New England Patriots' preseason finale:

The most notable part of the night has been Bill Belichick's approach. Almost all of the team's first-unit players have sat.

There was some question entering the game if Belichick might approach this similarly to 2011, when quarterback Tom Brady played four series in the preseason finale after the team had been blown out in Detroit the week before. This year, the Patriots were blown out in Detroit in Week 3 of the preseason, so this was essentially the same situation.

Belichick approached this year differently, and it will be interesting to hear the reasons (think he might dish after the game?).

A few other quick-hit thoughts:

1. Tim Tebow hasn't played.

2. One of the important things for the team tonight was the return to health of offensive linemen Dan Connolly and Marcus Cannon. The Patriots have been managing a shortage on the line all preseason but this is as healthy as they've been. Connolly played the entire first quarter and is now in position to start opening day at right guard as he's worked his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. Cannon, who played into the second quarter, is a top backup at tackle and guard.

3. We got a good look at the speed of fourth-round draft choice Josh Boyce, the receiver from Texas Christian, on his 40-yard touchdown catch (throw of the night from Ryan Mallett on what has been an up-and-down performance). That's part of what drew the Patriots to Boyce, was was also considered one of the smartest receivers in this year's draft, as we've also seen the Patriots try to get the ball to Boyce on short passes in space to give him a chance to get going.

4. Veteran running back Leon Washington might be on the roster bubble, but he showed with his 43-yard punt return that there is still plenty of life left in his legs. From this perspective, Washington has done enough to stick, not to mention he's considered a top locker-room presence.

5. Rooke seventh-round pick Michael Buchanan has had a few nice edge rushes off the defensive right side. Have to think he's earned a roster spot at this point.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Offensive starters for the New England Patriots in tonight's game against the New York Giants:

LT -- Will Svitek
LG -- Josh Kline
C -- Matt Stankiewitch
RG -- Dan Connolly
RT -- Marcus Cannon
TE -- Michael Hoomanawanui
QB -- Ryan Mallett
WR -- Kenbrell Thompkins
WR -- Aaron Dobson
WR -- Josh Boyce
RB -- Leon Washington

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on today's roster moves by the Patriots:

1. The team now has 77 players on the roster. Two more moves must be made by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

2. Tim Tebow survives ... for now. This is one of the notable storylines of the week, as it appears that Tebow is fighting for a job. Bill Belichick told 98.5 The Sports Hub before last Thursday's preseason game that he had about 80 percent of the 53-man roster set. Tebow, based on his performance in the preseason, would seemingly be part of the other 20 percent, which means Thursday night's preseason finale against the Giants could be big for him.

3. None of the moves are a surprise. A player like veteran linebacker Niko Koutouvides, whose primary contributions come as a core special teamer, could always return during the season if the need arises (similar to last year).

4. With defensive tackle Armond Armstead landing on the reserve/non-football illness list, he isn't eligible to start practicing until after the sixth week of the season. So this adds a little more context as to where things stand with his health after he had surgery for an infection at some point before training camp. He remains under contract to the Patriots but won't count against the roster by landing on the reserve/NFI list. The Patriots had been counting on Armstead to be a big part of their plans and depth remains thin behind starters Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly.

5. Rookie defensive tackle Cory Grissom (South Florida) was a strong practice squad candidate, but with him landing on injured reserve, it opens the door for another rookie tackle to stick on the practice squad (Joe Vellano, Anthony Rashad White the top candidates). It also led to the re-signing of defensive tackle Scott Vallone to the roster to address a depth shorage.

6. At receiver, third-year player Kamar Aiken was competitive early in camp but an injury derailed him. Also, rookies Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce seemed to generate more momentum and were a bit more consistent over the course of camp.

7. We didn't have offensive tackle/guard Markus Zusevics making the final roster, but others did, which reflected his standing as a bubble blocker around No. 8 on the depth chart. There seems to be a pretty big dropoff after the top 6 or 7 offensive linemen so this remains an area the Patriots figure to explore on the waiver wire and free agency.

DETROIT -- In tabulating the snaps played by skill-position players with the first-unit offense, one aspect stood out -- after losing fumbles, Brandon Bolden and Shane Vereen didn't play again for the rest of the half.

Here is the breakdown of snaps played (includes penalties, not half-ending kneel-down):

QB Tom Brady -- 46 of 46
WR Julian Edelman -- 45 of 46
WR Aaron Dobson -- 31 of 46
WR Kenbrell Thompkins -- 31 of 46
TE Jake Ballard -- 27 of 46
RB Stevan Ridley -- 21 of 46
TE Zach Sudfeld -- 19 of 46
TE Michael Hoomanawanui -- 16 of 46
RB Shane Vereen -- 10 of 46
FB James Develin -- 9 of 46
RB Leon Washington -- 8 of 46
WR Josh Boyce -- 6 of 46
RB LeGarrette Blount -- 4 of 46
RB Brandon Bolden -- 3 of 46

QUICK-HIT THOUGHTS: Julian Edelman filled in for the hobbled Danny Amendola, playing every snap but the short-yardage fourth-and-1 run in the second quarter when the Patriots called on three tight ends and a fullback and running back. ... Edelman and Kenbrell Thompkins opened the game in the two-receiver package, with Aaron Dobson coming on as the third receiver. The Patriots utilized the three-receiver package quite a bit, even turning to a four-wide look at times. ... At tight end, Jake Ballard and Zach Sudfeld opened as the top combination. Ballard has gradually upped his workload this preseason, with his 27 snaps a high. ... At running back, Stevan Ridley was the clear No. 1 option.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Leftovers from Patriots practice:

1. Tebow deflects talk of roster spot. Unlike his time with the Broncos and Jets, quarterback Tim Tebow’s roster spot is less secure. He was asked how much he focuses on that, and said that he tries to keep a day-to-day focus. “Just worried about improving every single day and having fun out there at practice,” he said.

When asked if a situation like this makes him hungry, Tebow turned jokester.

“No, I eat enough,” he said, smiling.

As for his passing stat line last Friday against the Buccaneers (1 of 7 for minus-1 yard), he said, “You definitely want to do better in some areas, and also you have different things happen that you just try to handle the best way you can.”

2. Sudfeld draws a big crowd. Rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld drew what looked like the biggest media crowd on Tuesday. He talked about turning the page from his solid performance against the Buccaneers, in which he hauled in a 2-point conversion and had a touchdown reception

“It was a great experience for me, but at the end of the day, at this point we’re playing the Lions,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter what you did last week. I have a lot to improve on for this week.”

Sudfeld also touched on the culture he’s experienced with the Patriots.

“Everyone in this organization knows what it takes to win. That’s something that’s great to see out there, a rookie to see how even the veterans are competing every day … that’s something I strive to be like those guys.”

3. Dobson: Rookies in it together. Rookie receiver Aaron Dobson said it’s nice to be going through the college-to-NFL transition with others in his situation, such as Kenbrell Thompkins and Josh Boyce. “They’re going through the same exact things that I am so we can definitely relate,” he said.

Dobson has noticed a change within the team entering the third week of the preseason.

“I can feel the transition; that this game is going be more intensity out there,” he said, adding that playing in his first preseason game helped him get the jitters out.

4. Arrington and Washington hold court. After being praised by coach Bill Belichick earlier in the day, cornerback Kyle Arrington was a popular presence among media members. Many of the questions reflected back on his career journey and how he’s emerged as a key player for the team. Veteran running back Leon Washington also drew a crowd. Washington touched on the value on special teams and the diversity of the team's running back group.