Pats Roster Move Analysis

Is accordance with league rules, the Patriots had to get down from 80 players to 75 today. They did so by making the following moves:

• Ryan O'Callaghan to IR (season over)
• Stephen Neal to PUP (out until week 7 at least)
• Cut CB Jason Webster
• Cut RB Kyle Eckel
• Cut OL Ryan Wendell

While the cuts of Eckel and Wendell shouldn't be too much of a shocker we can make some assumptions based on these cuts.

• Patriots are happy with their cornerback depth. While Webster looked good early on in camp he just couldn't stay healthy. This leaves Fernando Bryant, Ellis Hobbs and Terrence Wheatley as the top three. Jonathan Wilhite and Lewis Sanders at the next tier and Mike Richardson/Jeff Shoate at the bottom.
• Clearly the decision on Neal was cause for the signings of John Welbourne and Mike Flynn. There will probably be another cut or two at guard, or Russ Hochstein could also be moved to PUP.
• Matt Light is probably going to be okay, otherwise they would not have axed their tackle depth by two today.

Overall this is a good sign that no one else was moved to IR today. So far the Patriots have been lucky to avoid major injuries except in Tank Williams' case.