The New England Patriots got dealt some unfortunate injury news Thursday, and the team is still two months away from putting on pads for the first time.

The Patriots placed veteran linebacker Raekwon McMillan, who signed a one-year contract extension this offseason, on injured reserve. McMillan, who partially tore his Achilles, per The Athletic's Jeff Howe, can only play this season if he's released from New England with an injury settlement.

Other players on the roster will obviously be impacted by McMillan suddenly being removed.

Linebacker Mack Wilson, who also re-signed on a one-year contract this offseason, snuck onto our 53-man roster projection earlier this month over McMillan, but it was close with this note:

“We could only keep one of Wilson or McMillan. Wilson has slightly more guaranteed money.”

Overall, we had Wilson, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Chris Board, Marte Mapu and Jahlani Tavai making the roster. McMillan’s injury significantly increases the chances of Wilson making the team. It also helps out players like Olaunle Fatukasi, Terez Hall, Calvin Munson and undrafted rookie Jourdan Heilig who also are competing for roles.

It’s a really unfortunate injury for McMillan, who has already missed two NFL seasons with torn ACLs. McMillan didn’t play a massive role in New England last season, but he was a useful player for the Patriots, and there’s a role to be filled there.

McMillan and Wilson played a similar share of snaps last season. McMillan was on the field for 250 defensive snaps and 277 special teams snaps, while Wilson took on 236 defensive snaps and 284 special teams snaps. Both players saw the majority of their snaps in the passing game. Wilson didn’t play any defensive snaps after Week 13. So, Wilson could simply absorb McMillan’s reps.

The Patriots also could elect to give those snaps to Board, Mapu or Tavai instead.

Mapu is the most intriguing player in the Patriots' linebacker room as a 2023 third-round pick. He primarily played defensive back at Sacramento State, but he projects as a coverage linebacker in the NFL.

Board was mostly signed as a special-teams ace, but he too has experience on defense in the passing game as a speedy reserve linebacker.