Welker pitches in with another strong game

After having 10 catches for a career-high 150 yards last week against Tennessee, Welker had 10 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown yesterday in the Patriots’ 35-7 victory over the Buccaneers. It was the first time in Welker’s six-year career that he had back-to-back 10-catch performances and it served as notice that Welker is fully recovered from the knee injury that caused him to miss two games this season.

“Yeah, I think so,’’ said Welker, who now leads the Patriots in receptions with 46 for 484 yards and is tied for the team lead with four touchdown receptions. “I’m definitely getting there.’’

Welker put the Patriots ahead, 14-0, with 2:16 left in the first quarter when he took a screen pass from quarterback Tom Brady and scampered 14 yards into the end zone. The play showed the value of Welker, who moves the chains with his ability to pick up yards after the catch.

That’s something Welker said is a big part of his success.

“Absolutely, especially when you’re catching 5-yard routes you’ve got to be able to do something with it afterwards,’’ he said. “So, that’s something I’ve definitely got to be able to do or I’ll be out of a job here pretty quick. So, it’s definitely something I take pride in and try to accomplish.’’

That’s also the type of post-pass production that endears a wide receiver to his quarterback.

“He does everything right out there,’’ said Brady. “He’s always in the right spot. He gets open versus any coverage on any route.’’

Thomas was credited with one tackle and had a quarterback hit on the Buccaneers’ second drive, forcing an incompletion.

Thomas didn’t want to talk too much about his return to the field after coach Bill Belichick elected to leave him out against Tennessee.

“It felt fine. It ain’t like it’s been a long time. It ain’t like I retired and came back or nothing, but it was good,’’ said Thomas.

Last Wednesday, Thomas said he hadn’t spoken to Belichick since the benching. Following the game, he said he’d talked to Belichick since, but it was unclear if the two just talked or if they talked about why Thomas was inactive.

“Yeah, we had a conversation. We had a conversation. We’re fine. We’ve moved on,’’ said Thomas.

However, Patriots players had no complaints about the turf after the game.

There was some slipping, but it didn’t really affect the game. Receiver Randy Moss slipped coming out of the huddle before the Patriots’ first offensive play, and Buccaneers wide receiver Sammie Stroughter slipped when he was wide open at his 40 on third and 13 from the Tampa 26 in the first quarter.

“It wasn’t too bad. I think it was better than we’ve seen in the past,’’ said Thomas. “I think since it didn’t rain I think that might have helped it out a lot. The grass was long, very long. It’s almost like your lawn at home.’’

Both Welker and Thomas compared the field with University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., where the Patriots played Super Bowl XLII.

“Having that experience I had the right shoes on,’’ said Welker, who wore screw-in cleats. “But really there weren’t too many slips out there where I was falling down or anything like that. I think there was one time where I was trying to cut, but other than that it was a real fast track and I liked it.’’

He was carted off the field during the fourth quarter with no shoe or sock on his right foot and the team announced he had an ankle injury.

The team did not provide any update on Warren’s status after the game.

One week after he got his first career interception, Chung, the team’s top pick in the 2009 draft and first of four second-rounders, recorded his first sack. Chung was credited with a sack in the second quarter, after he arrived on the scene to clean up. He also had four solo tackles, one off the team high.

“It must have been great for him,’’ said Meriweather. “My first year [2007] I got a chance to play it was wonderful. It was one of those times that I felt like I was in high school all over again, getting my first real chance to play, so it must have been really, really good for him.’’

Connolly was at fullback for Laurence Maroney’s 1-yard TD run with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter that made it 35-7 and when Maroney picked up a third and 1 on the opening drive of the second half, which ended with a Brady touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson.

Reserve right tackle Mark LeVoir, who made his season debut after being activated off the physically unable to perform list, where he spent the first six weeks of the season because of a shoulder injury, was also in on Maroney’s TD run as a tackle eligible.