Gillislee carried eight times for 38 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 30-28 exhibition win over the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

Gillislee plowed into the end zone from a yard out to cap off his team's third consecutive touchdown drive to start the game. Though Dion Lewis and James White started the game and saw their share of action with the first-team offense, there seems to be a niche for Gillislee as a bigger back after his offseason arrival. His usage could be limited at times this season due to the wealth of options the team can turn to on offense, but he could see plenty of short-yardage work if he plays the role occupied by LeGerrette Blount a season ago. Gillislee is unlikely to see much, if any, action in next week's preseason finale against the Giants.

Gillislee (hamstring) is in uniform for Friday's preseason game against the Lions, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Rex Burkhead is slated to miss the contest, which affords Gillislee an opportunity to see key backfield reps in the Patriots' preseason dress rehearsal. Assuming he can avoid any injury setbacks, Gillislee will look to solidify his role in the New England offense, which potentially includes him carving out a majority of the team's short-yardage duties, which were handled primarily last year by LeGarrette Blount.

Gillislee (hamstring), who returned to practice Tuesday, suited up again Wednesday, the Patriots' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per ESPN.com, Gillislee, who practiced fully Tuesday, is a candidate to make his preseason debut Friday against the Lions. Following his return to the field, Gillislee revealed that an MRI on his injured hamstring came back clean, adding that he feels 100 percent at this stage. After missing time of late, Gillislee will look to establish his role in the New England offense, which could include him carving out a majority of the team's short-yardage duties, which were dominated last year by LeGarrette Blount. Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Rex Burkhead has missed two straight practices, while James White and Dion Lewis profile as pass-catching aces in the Patriots' backfield. Ultimately, the team's tendency to parse our carries in a game-plan-specific manner figures to lead to a degree of volatile fantasy production from any component of what looks like a deep and versatile backfield. That said, if Gillislee does indeed claim the bulk of the the goal-line opportunities, he'll provide value in TD-heavy formats.

Gillislee (hamstring) was a full participant during Tuesday's practice after being limited for the past two weeks, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gillislee's lingering hamstring injury appears to finally be on the mend with the Patriots' first regular season contest approaching in just over two weeks. Although he'll likely be the top candidate to assume the No. 1 spot on the depth chart at running back, fellow backfield weapons James White, Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead figure to vulture not only snaps, but fantasy production as well given the team's variety in offensive scheme on a weekly basis. Optimistically, Gillislee's ability to handle short-yardage situations could result in a majority of the rushing touchdowns among his peers.

Gillislee (hamstring) was present for the start of practice Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

As Reiss points out, with 16 days left until the Patriots' season opener, the "urgency (is) picking up" for Gillislee, who, when healthy, appears best-equipped to absorb the the greatest share of the team's short-yardage duties dominated last year by LeGarrette Blount. That said, with fellow newcomer Rex Burkhead also in the mix, in addition to pass-catching aces James White and Dion Lewis, the Patriots' tendency to divide weekly carries in a game-plan-specific manner figures to lead to some volatile fantasy production from any member of the team's deep and versatile backfield.

Gillislee (hamstring) will not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gillislee stayed back when the team traveled to join Houston for joint practices this week, so his absence from the contest shouldn't surprise many. He's been dealing with a hamstring injury for a couple weeks now, with no clear indication of when he will be ready for game action. While he's still a strong candidate to see early-down work for the Patriots this season, his continued absence opens the door for his backfield mates to improve their standing. Per Reiss, Rex Burkhead is expected to receive early reps in his place Saturday.

Gillislee (hamstring) didn't travel with the Patriots for joint team practices with the Texans this week, Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gillislee missed the preseason opener and likely will be held out for Saturday's exhibition in Houston. He's been limited or absent from practice for more than a week, while backfield mates Rex Burkhead, James White, Dion Lewis and Brandon Bolden all have been healthy. Burkhead represents Gillislee's main competition for the early down work and goal-line carries that LeGarrette Blount handled last season. There's still time for the former Bill to lock down a key role, but all the missed work isn't helping his cause.

Gillislee continues to miss practice due to a hamstring issue, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gillislee, who sat out the Patriots' preseason opener, thus looks unlikely to suit up for Saturday's game against the Texans. Once healthy, Gillislee will re-enter the Patriots' backfield mix, where he'll face competition from fellow offseason acquisition Rex Burkhead, as well as pass-catching aces James White and Dion Lewis. It's a deep and versatile positional group, but Gillislee appears best-equipped to absorb the the greatest share of the short-yardage duties dominated last year by LeGarrette Blount.

A hamstring issue has led to Gillislee working on the Patriots' conditioning field for the past few days, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per the report, the issue was also in play for Gillislee during OTAs. The running back is thus day-to-day as the Patriots' preseason opener approaches, which we suspect is a factor in him being listed as a third-stringer on the team's posted depth chart. When healthy, Gillislee faces backfield competition from fellow offseason acquisition Rex Burkhead, while James White and Dion Lewis are slated to handle the majority of the team's passing-down work. No matter where Gillislee ends up slotting on the team's depth chart to open the season, the Patriots' tendency to divide weekly carries in a game-plan-specific manner could lead to some sporadic production, even if he does end up absorbing the the greatest share of the short-yardage duties dominated last year by LeGarrette Blount.

Gillislee (unspecified issue) worked on the Patriots' conditioning field Wednesday, the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

While it's unclear what's ailing Gillislee, it wouldn't be surprising to see the running back sit out Thursday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, given that he's missed some team drills of late. Prior to his recent limitations, ESPN's Mike Reiss noted that Gillislee appeared to be "off to a nice start" in training camp, while suggesting that the former Buffalo Bill "looks primed to be the Patriots" top option to replace" departed big back LeGarrette Blount. There's been nothing to suggest that Gillislee is dealing with a concerning injury, but his third-string listing on the Patriots' posted depth chart is presumably in deference to him not being 100 percent at this time.