FOXBORO – While the fandom frets about Tom Brady’s performances coming off his knee injury – with many expecting a repeat of his off-the-charts 2007 season – the NFL seems to think QB12 is pretty close to the player he was pre-Bernard Polian.

Brady was named AFC offensive player of the month for October on Thursday, as he led New England to a 3-1 record that included a 59-0 victory over Tennessee that set all sorts of franchise marks for offensive excellence.

In the second quarter alone, Brady tossed five touchdown passes, the most in a single quarter in NFL history; for the game he had six touchdowns, tying his own franchise mark. He is one of just five quarterbacks to have thrown six TDs in a game more than once.

Brady also recorded the feat in Miami on Oct. 21, 2007, when he had five, left the game, and then came back after Matt Cassel threw a pick-six and added another for good measure.

For the month, Brady completed just over 70 percent of his passes (92-for-131) for 1,161 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating in the four games was 121.7.

It is the third time in his career that Brady has received the monthly honor: On his way to being named league most valuable player in ’07, the 32-year old received the award in September and October.

Pittsburgh’s James Harrison, the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, was named the conference defensive player of the month, and Denver’s Eddie Royal won honors as October’s best special teams player.

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The Patriots held a full-pads practice inside Gillette Stadium on Thursday before the players were released for their three-day weekend.

A total of 13 players were not spotted during the media-access period: Julian Edelman, Fred Taylor, Shawn Springs, Sammy Morris, Laurence Maroney, Jerod Mayo, Junior Seau, Matt Light, Vince Wilfork, Randy Moss, Myron Pryor, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green.

Pryor was sent home because of an illness; Maroney practiced on Wednesday and it isn’t known why he missed the session. The rest of the players are ailing or simply veterans who earned some time off.

One note: Matthew Slater was in a white offensive jersey after having practiced in a blue defensive jersey to this point this year. The second-year UCLA product had been working as a defensive back but with the Pats thin at receiver, he apparently has been switched; during pre-game warmups in London last Sunday he was working with the receiver group.

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Best wishes for a speedy recovery to former Patriots fullback Heath Evans, now with New Orleans, who will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. One of the nicest guys to pass through the New England locker room in recent years, Evans parlayed his versatile role with the Pats – he blocked, carried, caught, played special teams and furnished the media with frequent quotes – into a two-year free agent deal with the Saints.

Evans had three touchdowns in five games this season.

smanza@projo.com