Brady's prognosis positive

Kraft says QB will return to Boston soon

Just a hunch, but it doesn't appear Bill Belichick is enjoying this explanation from referee Bill Leavy in the first quarter. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

SAN DIEGO - Patriots owner Robert Kraft has spoken with Tom Brady since the franchise quarterback underwent surgery on his left knee last Monday. Kraft said yesterday, before the Patriots fell to the Chargers, 30-10, that the surgery went well and that Brady will return to Boston soon for rehabilitation.

Brady, who suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee during the Patriots' season opener against the Chiefs Sept. 7, was operated on at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Kraft said Brady was in good spirits following the surgery.

"One day closer to playing next year. That's every day I talk to him," said Kraft, speaking at Seau's, the eponymous restaurant of former Patriots linebacker Junior Seau, whom Kraft presented with his 2007 AFC championship ring yesterday.

"You know him, the way he tackles anything. [Seau] they broke the mold, and Brady they broke the mold in my opinion. Once [Brady] focuses, his attitude is so good. He's moving on to next year, and he's working hard, and thank goodness the surgery went well. He'll be returning to Boston shortly and doing his rehab there.

"He's focusing on being as good as he can be next year. He's doing what he has to do. He really has a great attitude. I'm not sure I could be as up as he is."

Kraft acknowledged it's been tough for Brady to sit out, and he intimated Brady would have played this year, even with the injuries, if it had been possible.

"He works harder. He does what no other athlete I know does," said Kraft. "In the end, we hope to have him here for another 10 years. This is a minor setback . . . or a major setback [in '08]."

Brady has two years left on his contract. He has a $5 million base salary next season, but a large cap charge ($14.6 million).

Kraft said he's proud of the way the team has responded in the face of losing No. 12.

"We have a pretty good team. I'm very proud of the way the guys have rallied around one another," Kraft said. "Just thinking of how down we all felt, that devastated feeling when your worst nightmare happens in the first quarter of the first game. You can't say you're not impacted when you lose the best player in the NFL.

"We have a system and we have a wonderful organization that has carried on, and I'm very proud of what they've done so far."

A little run down
Two days after saying he had "issues," running back Laurence Maroney, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, was not active for last night's game.

In addition to Maroney, running back LaMont Jordan was also out because of a right calf injury he sustained during last Sunday's win over the 49ers.

With Maroney and Jordan out, rookie running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who was called up from the practice squad Saturday, was active. He got into the game and had one reception for 9 yards in the fourth quarter.

The other Patriots injury inactives were receiver Kelley Washington, who missed his third straight game with a right ankle injury, and linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring). Cornerback Lewis Sanders (hamstring) returned after missing the 49ers game.

The other New England inactives were center Dan Connolly, tackle Wesley Britt, and linebacker Shawn Crable. Matt Gutierrez was the third quarterback.

Notable absences for the Chargers were wide receiver Chris Chambers, who injured his ankle against the Dolphins last Sunday, and linebacker Jyles Tucker (hamstring).

Green injured ankle
Defensive end Jarvis Green sustained a right ankle injury on the Chargers' first drive of the game as he was rushing on a third-and-7 play with 10:50 remaining in the quarter. Green walked off the field with help before being carted to the locker room. In his absence, the playing time of four-year veteran Mike Wright and third-year man Le Kevin Smith increased. Meanwhile, the Patriots lost starting right tackle Nick Kaczur to a right ankle injury with 3:10 left in the first quarter. Kaczur, who was carted off the sideline and into the locker room, was replaced by second-year tackle Mark LeVoir . . . Sammy Morris got the start in place of Maroney. Morris had four receptions for 49 yards and rushed 10 times for 26 yards. He scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 5:18 remaining that made it 30-10. It was the Patriots' lone touchdown . . . The Patriots suffered their first loss in the month of October since 2005, breaking a streak of 11 straight wins in the month . . . The Patriots' 12-game road winning streak was the second-longest in NFL history (San Francisco, 18, 1988-90).

Harrison homecoming
Rodney Harrison made his long-awaited return to San Diego. Harrison, who spent the first nine seasons of his career in a Chargers uniform before being released in 2003 and signing with the Patriots, faced his former team in San Diego for the first time.

The Patriots had not played at San Diego during the regular season since 2002 and Harrison was sidelined with a sprained MCL in his right knee for New England's dramatic 24-21 AFC Divisional Playoff victory at Qualcomm Stadium in January 2007.

"That was my home for nine years," said Harrison, who made his first Pro Bowl in San Diego in 1998 and is a member of the Chargers' all-time team. "The San Diego Chargers gave me an opportunity to live my dream and to be a part of a Super Bowl team [in the 1994 season], and a team that struggled at times.

"The city embraced me and the fans were always great to me. I was able to do a lot of great things in the community. Being that I am playing my first time back there, it is going to be a special moment because I started my career there. I get a chance to play in front of a lot of family and friends."

Hollywood story?

Kraft, who is chairman of the NFL's broadcasting committee, said the league is interested in returning to Los Angeles. The Chargers, who want a new stadium, are the only team in Southern California.

Los Angeles last had an NFL franchise in 1994, when it had the Rams and Raiders, who moved to St. Louis and Oakland, respectively.

"We all want a team [there]," Kraft said. "It's a high priority because you've had a generation of young fans not being passionate about a team. The good news being that there are a lot of Patriots fans in California. Part of that is maybe Brady being from [Northern] California, the team doing well. They've branded with us. It's really actually been very positive.

"But in the end, I'd like to see us build a great stadium in LA, have two teams there, and have the Super Bowl there every third year; say give them three Super Bowls in the next 10 years. LA is a city that should have Super Bowls. The sense of celebrity, the weather, and just having a good time."

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