FOXBORO — Hours away from the NFL’s roster cut deadline Tuesday, Bill Belichick described the Patriots three times as having “balls in the air.”

A more apt description might’ve been offensive linemen in the mix.

The Patriots executed dozens of transactions in the final hours before the league’s 4 p.m. deadline that helped sort out an offensive line steeped in injuries and inexperience. The Pats’ first move was to activate projected swing tackle Calvin Anderson off the Non-Football Illness List. Anderson missed all of training camp with an illness he developed sometime between June’s mandatory minicamp and late July.

During Tuesday’s shorts-and-shells practice, Anderson took warmup reps at both offensive tackle spots. Speaking to reporters hours later, Anderson declined to offer many specifics on the illness that sidelined him.

“We agreed we’re not gonna talk in depth about what actually happened just yet,” Anderson said. “But it was serious, and I’m just grateful to be back.”

Anderson did reveal he was “very worried” about his football future at the outset of the illness. He thanked his wife and the support of the organization to help get him back to health.

Anderson also practiced alongside starting left guard Cole Strange, who hit the field for the first time since hurting his left leg in a padded practice on July 31. Strange described his status as “day to day,” and wouldn’t say whether he expects to be available for the season opener on Sept. 10.

In the meantime, his return allowed the Pats to practice with at least four starters along their offensive line for the first time since the start of training camp.

If the entire offensive line can return to health in time for Week 1, the Patriots will curb the greatest concern with their current roster. To insulate themselves from the aforementioned injuries and uncertainty, the Pats rostered 17 offensive linemen heading into roster cuts, including newly acquired offensive tackles Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Vederian Lowe.

It’s possible one of them, or Anderson, could start at right tackle, and complete a starting lineup that should otherwise consist of left tackle Trent Brown, Strange, center David Andrews and right guard Mike Onwenu. The Patriots might also return a few offensive linemen to their practice squad after waiving Chasen Hines, Andrew Stueber and Bill Murray among others Tuesday.

“It’s difficult for everyone,” Belichick said of cutdown day. “It’s difficult on relationships. But, we all knew this day was coming, and this is part of the process. It’s a very competitive league. There’s a lot of very talented players, and they compete, and not everybody can have a spot.”