Jackson is focused on a regular role

Chad Jackson (right) hopes there's room for him along with Randy Moss (left) and Jabar Gaffney in the Patriots' receiving corps after two disappointing seasons. (Stephan Savoia/Associated Press)

FOXBOROUGH - You don't have to be a card-counting MIT math wizard to figure out how many receptions Patriots wide receivers Chad Jackson and Kelley Washington combined for last year. Simply by showing up for the second day of the team's passing camp yesterday and hauling in a few practice tosses from Tom Brady, the two topped their total from last season: zero.

The two receivers are at different points in their careers, but have the same thing to prove - that they can be capable pass-catchers for the Patriots. Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and the underrated Jabar Gaffney are all back, but somebody is going to have to replace the 46 receptions for 697 yards and three touchdowns that Donté Stallworth took with him to Cleveland.

"Donté is gone, so there is a big spot open, like everybody is saying," said Jackson.

Physical ability isn't the question with either the 6-foot-1-inch, 215-pound Jackson or the 6-3, 215-pound Washington. It's whether they can master the finer points of the Patriots' record-setting passing attack.

If nothing else, Washington has value as a special teams standout. He shined in that role last year, his first with the Patriots. However, Jackson, for all his tantalizing talent, has failed to carve out a fit with New England and justify the Patriots' decision to trade second- and third-round picks to the Packers in the 2006 draft to move up 16 slots in the second round to take him at No. 36 overall.

In two injury-plagued seasons, Jackson has caught 13 balls for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, after missing the first nine games while he recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in the 2007 AFC title game, Jackson was active for just two of the remaining seven regular-season games and used only as a kick returner. He reprised that role in the lone playoff game he was active for against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It doesn't help that the wide receiver taken with the second-rounder the Patriots dished to Green Bay, Greg Jennings, has emerged as exactly the type of big-play threat the Patriots thought they were getting in Jackson.

"I think it's an important year for me," said Jackson. "This is what they drafted me for. I'm going to come out there and show the coaches what I can do and show the fans what I can do and help out this team any way I can."

While there have been questions in the past about Jackson's professionalism and maturity, he spent the offseason in Foxborough working out and studying his playbook. It showed yesterday as both his route-running and focus were noticeably sharper.

"Last year I was going through the injury and stuff; this year is a different year for me," said Jackson, who turned 23 in March. "It's a more mature year and a settle-down year for me.

"Everything is coming along for me easy now, and all I'm doing right now is just concentrating and getting the plays down to be on the same track with the quarterback and the coach."

But it's not just young players who have a hard time picking up the Patriots' offense.

"Last year, it just seemed that everything was going so fast," said Washington, who is entering his sixth season. "It's kind of tough for guys to come into a system like this. We had guys do it. It's just all about going out there and producing."

Washington re-signed with the Patriots in the offseason, a two-year deal that could be worth more than $1.96 million, including bonuses. Washington, who will turn 29 in August, excelled on kickoff and punt coverage for the Patriots and recorded the team's first blocked punt since 1999 in a 20-10 win over the New York Jets Dec. 16.

He believes he can still be a key special teams player while adding an offensive element to his game.

"I love playing special teams," he said. "I love what I can do out there, but there's something about offense where it's nice to catch balls and make plays, too."

Washington said it's up to him to earn more playing time.

"We've got some talented guys who produced last year," he said, "and I would just like to go out there and show them that I can make some plays offensively to complement my special teams."

Washington knows the Patriots have invested a lot in Jackson, and the veteran is rooting for his callow competition to help the team.

"We've all been through that in our career where you're at that point where the team, the coaching staff, the organization really wants you to step up and make plays," said Washington. "We've all been there, and I think with Chad, he's got a great opportunity because he is talented, and I think everybody kind of expects big things from him."

But who plays is based on execution, not expectation.

"They can script plays and they can do that and tell you what you got to do," said Washington, "but it's up to the player to do it."

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com