Thomas is ready to step up

FOXBOROUGH - Starting tight end Benjamin Watson missed the final exhibition game with a knee injury and his availability for Sunday's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs looks bleak. He's been held out of practice this week.

That would likely thrust third-year player David Thomas into a more prominent role.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 248-pound Thomas is coming off a season in which he was limited to two games because of a foot injury. That cost him a chance to build on a 2006 rookie campaign that ended with him playing some of his best football at the end of the season.

"Any time you miss games, it's frustrating, but I'm excited to move forward and put that in the past and get this season started on Sunday," he said.

Although the Patriots adopted more of a receiver-based attack last season - running approximately 68 percent of their plays with three or four receivers on the field - the role of the tight end remains important. Watson (36 catches, 6 TDs) most often was on the field in three-receiver packages, a role that would seemingly go to Thomas.

Thomas, who is perhaps best known nationally from his college days at Texas, when he totaled 10 receptions in the Rose Bowl, wasn't tipping his hand yesterday.

"In the preseason, we do a lot of different things and we work on a lot of packages," he said. "My job is to do whatever they call me to do to try to execute the best I can."

Brady set to go

The Patriots did not list quarterback Tom Brady on their "participation report" yesterday.

On Wednesday, Brady was listed as having fully participated in practice, but with right shoulder and foot injuries. On the same day, coach Bill Belichick told Kansas City reporters in a conference call that Brady was "ready to go" Sunday.

As part of the NFL's injury report procedures, teams list injuries Wednesday and Thursday by noting the players' level of participation in practice. Today's injury report will include designations for the likelihood those players will suit up in the game - which include "out," "doubtful," "questionable," and "probable."

Receiver Wes Welker was asked how Brady has looked this week.

"He's looked like Tom, just out there throwing the ball around, and making sure he's preparing like everybody else, getting ready to go," he said.

Cram session

Entering his eighth season, defensive end Richard Seymour still has a rookie-like excitement when it comes to the opening game of the season.

"I'm sure I'll probably have to take some type of sleeping medicine to get to sleep on Saturday night," he said.

One unique part of this week for Seymour has been preparing to face two left tackles - rookie Branden Albert or his backup, Herb Taylor. Albert, one of the Chiefs' two first-round draft choices (No. 15 overall), missed the preseason with a foot injury, so there is no recent tape for Seymour to study.

Albert returned to practice this week and might start.

"We have to be prepared for whoever they put in the game, so I watched some film on him at Virginia," Seymour said, noting that if Albert plays, it might require some adjusting on the sideline.

Seymour touched on the importance of the Patriots shutting down the Chiefs' Larry Johnson-led running game, which he said includes bootlegs.

Seymour likes what he's seen this week from the Patriots.

"I think the team is ready to go," he said. "Obviously, we didn't have a good showing in the preseason, so we want to come out and show the fans that we're ready to go."

Welker still shifty

Welker dodged questions about his status. Asked how much discomfort he's feeling after sustaining a rib injury fielding a punt Aug. 22 against the Eagles, he said, "I'm just excited to be out there. I'm excited to get out there and compete a little bit and have a little fun with it." . . . The Patriots re-signed tight end Stephen Spach and released Jason Pociask, who was claimed on waivers from the Jets Monday . . . Punter Reggie Hodges was signed to the practice squad and tight end Tyson DeVree was released . . . Linebacker Adalius Thomas on the key to stopping Johnson: "He's big and strong and can break tackles, so you definitely have to get more than one guy to the ball. It's about gang-tackling and technique." . . . Reserve center/guard Russ Hochstein, who returned to practice Monday for the first time since injuring his groin in the exhibition opener Aug. 7, fully participated in practice . . . Kicker Stephen Gostkowski did not participate in practice, but the participation report indicated the reason was not injury-related . . . Receiver Sam Aiken, defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, and center/guard Dan Connolly - all of whom have knee injuries - did not practice.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.