If the injured Matt Light, blocking for quarterback Tom Brady during the Patriots’ victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla., is not ready on Sept. 7, Wesley Britt will take his place at left tackle in the season-opener against Kansas City.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

FOXBORO –– In his induction speech during the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies earlier this month, former tackle Gary Zimmerman said of his fellow offensive linemen, “We are an inconspicuous group who defend our quarterbacks as if they were our mothers.”

For Zimmerman, that meant protecting another Hall of Famer, the Broncos’ John Elway.

For Wesley Britt, it means protecting a future Hall of Famer, Tom Brady.

With Opening Day for the Patriots just 17 days away, there’s a possibility Britt could be the starting left tackle against the Kansas City Chiefs. Matt Light, an All-Pro for the first time last year while also playing in his second Pro Bowl, has not been on the practice field since July 26, a mere three days into training camp, as he recovers from an undisclosed injury.

Yesterday, New England coach Bill Belichick said Light is “getting better every day,” but no timetable has been given for his return.

Thus, it could be Britt protecting the blindside of The Franchise against the Chiefs.

A soft-spoken giant, Britt is every bit the 6-foot-8, 320-pounder the Patriots list him at. A stalwart on the line at Alabama, where he was a three-time first-team All-SEC pick, Britt couldn’t stick with the Chargers, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2005 and cut him just before the regular-season opener. A day later, he was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad.

That’s where he spent his entire first year, but Britt played in 10 games in 2006. His first career start, at right tackle, was against the Bengals, when the Patriots rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns.

Last year, he played in just four games, mostly because of the health of the tackles. Light played in all 16 games and Nick Kaczur started 15.

But to Belichick, Britt has improved from Day One under the tutelage of offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

“He has developed a lot, and is one of the hardest-working guys on the team,” Belichick said. “He has played both left and right tackle for us; he has swing ability. He works hard and is a tough kid. He has done nothing but improve since he has been here. His hard work, determination and ability to take coaching have enabled him to do that.”

Britt smiled when he heard of Belichick’s praise, but he knows he’s nowhere near a finished product.

“I can’t rest on anything or take those (comments) in; I just have to continue to make improvement,” Britt said. “I’ve been trying to work hard, and hopefully I’m getting better. I’d hate to see all of the offseason work here on the field and working out here with Dante go for nothing.”

If Light isn’t ready to go on Sept. 7, Britt will see if his work has paid off, as he’ll likely be opposite Chiefs defensive end Turk McBride, another young player with something to prove.

Britt tries not to remember that it is Brady he’d be trying to keep upright.

“You don’t want to get any quarterback hit, especially Brady,” he said. “Whether you’re on the right or the left, you don’t want to get beat; you don’t want to [give up] a hit.”

Keeping McBride off Brady and opening holes for Laurence Maroney or Sammy Morris might be easy compared to trying to will your mother to live. Last October, Britt’s mother Vera suffered a severe head injury in a freak accident. Her skull was fractured in five places, and she had brain swelling. Initially, she was deemed stable, but three days later she was rushed into surgery and given a 15 percent chance of living 48 hours beyond the operation.

But Vera Britt made a recovery that can only be termed miraculous, and Wesley said the only thing she can’t do now is drive.

She was there when Wesley married his college sweetheart, Katie Boyd, earlier this year.

And on Sept. 7, she may get to see her son start at left tackle for the defending AFC champions.

smanza@projo.com