Quarterback Tom Brady, grimacing after being hit — and knocked out for the season — by the Chiefs’ Bernard Pollard in the Patriots’ first game in September, is expected to return to action next year, but questions still surround his recovery status.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

On Monday, as he and his teammates cleaned out their lockers at Gillette Stadium, Ellis Hobbs remarked that it might be the last time some of the men see one another.

Hobbs is right. There is roster turnover every year in the NFL, and for the Patriots, this year will be no different — a few key players might not be with New England come mini-camp in June, and it starts right at the top offensively, at quarterback.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the players on offense who may or may not have played their last game with the Patriots.

Matt Cassel: Four months ago, it was pretty much unimaginable that Cassel’s status for 2009 and beyond would be such a hot topic. In training camp, he was a backup quarterback beginning the final season of his rookie contract; now, he’s one of the most coveted free agents on the market. If he gets that far.

Only the Pats know how Tom Brady’s rehab is progressing, and such information is handed out by the team with all the frequency of Halley’s Comet sightings. But if Brady is indeed behind, as it has been reported, New England can franchise Cassel and pay him a one-year guaranteed contract equal to the value of the top five highest-paid players at the position. The franchise number for quarterbacks in ’09 will be north of $12 million. If Brady’s on or ahead of schedule, the Pats could still franchise him; the rule is that teams must give up two number-one draft picks for a franchised player, but that is negotiable.

Bottom line: Cassel’s about to get a heck of a raise from the $520,000 in base salary he made this year. If speculation over what he could command on the open market is correct, Cassel could make in one game next year what he made for all of the 2008 season.

Jabar Gaffney: Gaffney signed a one-year, $2-million contract with New England last March. His drop in Indianapolis notwithstanding, the former second-round draft pick has been a reliable third receiver for New England; he has a natural rapport with Brady, and Cassel seemed to look to him more late in the season, as 22 of his 38 catches came over the final seven weeks.

LaMont Jordan: Jordan signed with New England late in training camp, after he was finally released by Oakland after three rocky years with the pitiful Raiders. Though he has a history of injuries, Jordan and Sammy Morris made for a formidable duo late in the season as the Patriots averaged over 200 yards rushing per game over the final three weeks of the season, after Jordan fully returned from a right calf injury. The eight-year veteran expressed a desire to remain with New England this week; wherever he lands, he wants it to be a winning team with a strong coaching staff. Which is pretty much anywhere but Oakland or Detroit.

Russ Hochstein: The Swiss Army knife of offensive players, the interior lineman also took snaps at tight end and fullback over the final weeks of the season. He has always responded when called upon, and is a team-oriented, do-whatever’s-asked type that’s welcome in Foxboro.

Heath Evans: Another versatile player for the Pats. Typically the fullback on the occasion New England needs one, particularly in goal-line situations, Evans also gets to carry the ball once in a while and can catch a little too. He’s also a team guy who is happy to be with the Pats.

Wesley Britt (restricted free agent): When the season began, and particularly after Ryan O’Callaghan was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, it seemed as though Britt would see his fair share of time at tackle. But he was passed on the depth chart by Mark LeVoir, claimed off waivers on Sept. 1, and was a day-of-game inactive for all but two games.

There are several players on offense for whom 2009 is the last year of their contract with New England. Key among them is left guard Logan Mankins; the Pro Bowler has certainly out-earned his rookie deal, and is likely in line for an extension. On the offensive line, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Billy Yates, O’Callaghan and LeVoir will all be playing on the final year of their deals.

Tight end Benjamin Watson’s rookie deal ends after the ’09 season as well. While Watson has become a better blocker, his receiving numbers have steadily fallen, from a career-best 49 in 2006, to 36 last year, to just 22 this year. Some of that decline can be attributed to the arrival of Wes Welker and Randy Moss, but Watson has also had some egregious drops over the last couple of seasons.

smanza@projo.com