FOXBORO - Wes Welker has been a non-participant in recent practices at Gillette Stadium for unknown reasons, but if he had his wish, the Patriots' veteran receiver would be catching passes from Tom Brady in Thursday night's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

That may not happen, however. Amid unconfirmed reports that Welker may have a slight ankle sprain, the Patriots have been able to extend the audition for rookie Julian Edelman in the "Welker 2.0" role at which the former Kent State quarterback excelled last Thursday in Philadelphia.

"Of course I want to play," Welker said after Tuesday morning's practice, the next-to-last workout of the public-viewable portion of camp. "I think anybody that likes to compete wants to get out there and play."

It's not that the Patriots don't have enough of a sample of Welker's skills to make an accurate determination about his future contributions. But training camp is the time when players restore the communication and comfort that they share in high-precision offenses, and it's certain that Brady and Welker still need time to get themselves in sync after Brady's long layoff.

"Any time you have a chance to get out there and get better, whether it's practice or playing in the games or whatever it is, it's a process," he said. "You're always learning something new every day, and seeing something new, and you process that. It's always better to go through the motions of it." Welker said he is enjoying the development of Edelman into a receiver and punt returner, and sees that as something that might give the Patriots an added dimension this fall.

"He's done a great job and his been working his tail off, really just trying to understand the offense," the veteran said. "It's good to see. You always need that depth on your team. You never know what might happen, so you've got to have those guys step up.

"When you get the opportunity," he said, "you've definitely got to take advantage, and obviously he did that this past week."

New face

In the never-ending search for depth, and with a roster spot open, the Patriots signed safety Roderick Rogers before the afternoon practice Monday. Terms of the agreement were not announced.

Rogers (6-2, 187), was originally signed by Denver as a rookie free agent out of Wisconsin in 2007. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the Denver practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster for the final two games of the year. He played in three games in 2008, including a starting assignment at free safety against Oakland in November, before being waived and picked up by the Vikings for their practice squad.

Quick kicks

Patriots' coach Bill Belichick offered praise to the late Billy Sullivan, founding owner of the team, and the late Jim Nance, their bruising fullback of the 1960s, both of whom will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame prior to Thursday's game against the Bengals (7:30 p.m.; Ch. 4, 64). His most vivid recollection of Nance came from his memories as a youngster in Annapolis, Md. (where his father was a coach on the Navy staff).

"What I really remember about Jim Nance is when he wrestled at Syracuse as a heavyweight," Belichick said. "I remember being a kid at the Naval Academy and going to his wrestling matches and seeing Jim come in there and, boy, he looked like a fullback in his wrestling outfit. He was, of course, an NCAA championship wrestler with just incredible quickness and balance and power for a big man. Of course, you saw that on the field and off the field. I think the recognition there is certainly well-deserved." ...

It didn't take long; less than a couple of hours after the Minnesota Vikings signed Brett Favre, NFL.com was touting replica jerseys with Favre's No. 4 on them, orderable for $79.99 to $109.99.