Watson's a go-to guy in tight spot

FOXBOROUGH -- While there are few positives for the Patriots with the continued holdout of receiver Deion Branch, one of them might be the development of third-year tight end Benjamin Watson.

``I think Ben, with a guy like Deion not being here, he probably gets more opportunity than anyone else," said quarterback Tom Brady. ``He's a focal point of the passing game because of the way he's really stepped his level of play up over the last season. Ben and I have grown a lot this past year."

The 6-foot-3-inch, 255-pound Watson totaled 13 receptions for 181 yards and one touchdown over the exhibition season. He was most productive in the team's third preseason game against the Redskins, when the Patriots worked on their spread offense, a personnel package in which Watson is an integral member as a pass-catcher. Watson had eight grabs for 97 yards and a touchdown, flashing the potential that continues to catch Brady's eye.

``He's taking great strides; I'm excited to see the year he could have," Brady said. ``He could be a really dominant player. It's not like he's going to be our third or fourth option, and at times he was last year. He's really a guy you're always looking for."

Brady said his rapport with Watson is now close to a level that he's achieved with Branch, receiver Troy Brown, and former Patriot David Givens.

``For a quarterback, when you look at a guy you want confidence that he can get open," Brady said. ``I have that in certain guys. A lot of times it's hard to scan three receivers in one-on-one matchups, so a lot of times you pick the one guy you think has the best chance to get open and if he gets open he gets the ball. That was how it was with Troy, Deion, Givens, and hopefully now with Ben."

Brady said the number of balls he's thrown to Watson over the last two years has helped him ``get a great feel" for Watson. This offseason, Brady also studied offenses that feature the tight end, such as the Chargers with Antonio Gates and the Chiefs with Tony Gonzalez. When Brady watched Gonzalez, he could envision Watson doing some of the same things.

``They use [Tony] a lot of times in their three wide receiver packages on third downs -- Tony is their third wide receiver," Brady said. ``He's so big that if you put a smaller guy on him he'll overpower him and if you put a slower guy on him he'll outrun him. That could be a nice role for Ben.

``Ben is a big, strong, fast guy, he's got all the skills, he's smart, he's tough, he has an understanding of the offense. When he's really got to get open, he's becoming a very dependable player."

Inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who is recovering from a broken wrist, wasn't present at the media-access portion of yesterday's practice. He was listed as questionable on the team's injury report, giving him a 50 percent chance of playing. Bruschi hasn't practiced since undergoing surgery Aug. 9.

The Patriots also listed receiver Chad Jackson (hamstring) and offensive tackle Nick Kaczur (shoulder) as questionable, while offensive guard Stephen Neal (ankle), quarterback Tom Brady (shoulder), and receiver Doug Gabriel (hamstring) are probable.

Noticeably absent from the report were running back Laurence Maroney, who missed the exhibition finale and has been wearing a brace on his left knee, and defensive end Ty Warren, who missed Monday's practice.

The Bills listed one player on their report, safety Matt Bowen, who is questionable with a leg injury.

Dick Jauron's first game as head coach of the Bills comes in his own backyard.

``I'll never, as long as I live, forget growing up in Massachusetts, in Swampscott," Jauron said yesterday on a conference call. ``It was a terrific time to be in that small town with that group of people. Part of that experience, all around me, was the role of professional sports, which were incredible. The old AFL with the Patriots, of course the Boston Celtics were phenomenal during my growing up time, and the Red Sox were just an institution. My roots are there."

Jauron said the game would mark his first regular-season trip to Foxborough as a head coach. Jauron served as coach of the Bears from 1999-2003, with the team visiting the Patriots in the '03 preseason.

Brady defended his receiving corps yesterday when a questioner noted that the group wasn't as strong as the unit from 2005. ``How do we know that?" Brady responded. ``We haven't given our guys a chance this year . . . I don't want to sit here and bet against us. It's hard to replace guys who have been here for four years who have played at a very high level and have won Super Bowls and you replace those with new guys [Doug Gabriel and Jonathan Smith] who really their first day of practice was Monday. Will it look great all the time? No. But I think there is certainly a lot of ability out there." . . . Arbitrator John Feerick heard jurisdictional arguments from representatives of the Patriots, the NFL Players Association, and Branch last night regarding the receiver's grievance case against the team. The Patriots and the league have claimed there is no issue to be decided by Feerick under the rules established in the collective bargaining agreement. A ruling could come as early as today.

Ron Borges of the Globe staff contributed to this report.