Starters looking ahead

FOXBOROUGH -- Tom Brady didn't take part in practice yesterday, an indication that he won't see much action Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Giants.

Many regulars aren't expecting a heavy load, as the Patriots are also mixing in preparations for the season opener against the Bills Sept. 10.

``The starters won't be in there as much, that's no secret," said center Dan Koppen.

Offensive tackles Matt Light and Nick Kaczur, running back Laurence Maroney, defensive lineman Ty Warren, safety Tebucky Jones, and receiver Chad Jackson were among the other players not at yesterday's practice.

Jones hurt his right hamstring in Saturday's game against Washington and was still waiting to learn of the severity of the injury. His absence would be another blow to the special teams, which lost Mel Mitchell to a season-ending injury early in training camp.

On the plus side, third-year defensive lineman Marquise Hill practiced for the first time since the opening weekend of training camp, when he was helped off the field after injuring his ankle.

Running back Corey Dillon, who was poked in the eye in Saturday's game and didn't return to action, also practiced. Dillon joked that he was seeing with ``50-50 vision."

Second-year defensive lineman Mike Wright, who had a team-high four tackles and two sacks against the Redskins, has been playing with the first-unit kickoff coverage and kickoff-return teams.

It's rare for the Patriots to employ a defensive lineman on the kickoff coverage team, but Wright (who had one special teams tackle and an assist against the Redskins) has broken the mold.

``If you have a guy that can run well, I think they're hard to block, because you can't block them below the waist and they're able to use their power and strength out there in the open field," said coach Bill Belichick.

A player like Wright can be effective in busting an opponent's wedge, which the Patriots are seeing more of these days.

``You look at the kickoff returns in this league now and most teams are going back to these wedge returns," said Belichick. ``Like bell-bottomed pants, they go in and out of style, and now they're back in style. The more wedges they're running, the more it's nice to have a big guy that can meet those wedges rather than running some 205-pound guy in there to a bunch of offensive linemen in the wedge."

All NFL teams must trim rosters to 75 by today, with the final cuts to 53 by Sept. 2. As is often the case for players on the bubble, special teams can be a difference-maker. Rookie outside linebacker Pierre Woods and rookie running back Patrick Cobbs are two players making a strong push to land on the final roster, and both have been active on special teams.

``Pierre has probably had more experience than some players have in the kicking game," Belichick said. ``Still, it's a lot faster, a lot more involved [in the NFL]. But he is making progress."

On defense, the 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound Woods has been bumped up the depth chart one notch with Mike Vrabel playing more inside linebacker in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Cobbs has been given a chance on the kicking, punting, and return teams, and Belichick said he's been competitive despite being one of the smaller players on the field at 5-9, 210. ``Those guys have to win more with their quickness and their speed," Belichick said.

Offensively, Cobbs is coming off a 13-carry, 92-yard performance, showing a spark in the competition for a potential spot as a fourth running back.

Belichick said the team's production in the red zone has been erratic, with 18 trips resulting in just nine touchdowns. ``We'd like to have a few more touchdowns and few less field goals," he said . . . Vrabel on playing alongside Junior Seau for the first time: ``It was fun playing off of him. I think it's great just to have him, his presence, and his energy and his approach to the game." . . . The Patriots will hold their annual Charitable Foundation Gala tonight (tickets are sold out), with one player to receive the Ron Burton Service Award.