THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- For the first time since the 2005 Super Bowl, Tom Brady was not listed on a New England Patriots practice participation or injury report on Thursday, a sign that he is ready to start Sunday's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The quarterback, last season's NFL MVP, had a right foot injury and missed all four exhibition games.

Before last season, teams issued injury reports Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in which they listed which players were probable, questionable, doubtful or out of the upcoming game.

Then the NFL adopted a system in which such reports were issued only Friday; on Wednesday and Thursday, teams were required to issue reports of whether a player participated fully or partially in practice or not at all.

Wednesday's report said Brady participated fully and listed him with a shoulder and foot injury. Starting with the 2005 season opener and continuing through last season's Super Bowl -- a 56-game span -- he had been on the injury report but started every game.