The Patriots’ Randy Moss, in the open field after catching a pass during the team’s rout of the Bills in Foxboro last September, silenced the doubters by having an outstanding season.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

With the New England Patriots beginning training camp on Thursday and thus kicking off the start of the 2008 season, we’ll take a look at the players at each position and questions for each, as well as potential camp battles that will play out in the coming weeks.

•WIDE RECEIVER

In the mix: Randy Moss (11th season), Jabar Gaffney (7th), Sam Aiken (6th), Kelley Washington (6th), Wes Welker (5th), Chad Jackson (3rd), C.J. Jones (2nd), Robert Ortiz (1st), Chris Dunlap (1st) and Matthew Slater (rookie).

Questions and concerns: Who will emerge as the third option behind Moss and Welker? Can Chad Jackson fulfill the promise that led to New England trading up to get him in the 2006 draft?

The seasons Moss and Welker had last year — with a combined 210 catches, 2,668 yards and 31 touchdowns — won’t soon be forgotten in New England. Both came to the Patriots with questions marks and immediately went to work, learning the offense and getting to know quarterback Tom Brady.

With Donte Stallworth gone to Cleveland, the battle to see who becomes Brady’s third option might be the best of training camp. The early money is on Gaffney, who has been steady and gotten big yards when needed. He also seems to have a good rapport with Brady on the field.

After spending all of last year on special teams, Washington must be chomping at the bit to try to prove that he can contribute to the offense, and Jackson is in a make-or-break situation. After returning from an ACL injury midway through the season, the former second-round pick was relegated to special teams and the game-day inactives and didn’t catch a pass.

Slater is an intriguing player. Most pundits were surprised to see him taken in the fifth round, but he is a highly regarded special-teams player.

Aiken was also signed for his special-teams prowess.

•OFFENSIVE LINE

In the mix: Oliver Ross (11th season), Anthony Clement (10th), Russ Hochstein (8th), Matt Light (8th), Stephen Neal (7th), Dan Koppen (6th), Gene Mruczkowski (5th), Billy Yates (5th), Nick Kaczur (4th), Logan Mankins (4th), Wesley Britt (3rd), Dan Connolly (3rd), Ryan O’Callaghan (3rd), Jimmy Martin (1st) and Ryan Wendell (rookie).

Questions and concerns: Was the line’s performance against the Giants in Super Bowl XLII an aberration or a sign of things to come? Will Neal (knee) be healthy? What happens to Kaczur?

The heart of this unit — Light, Neal, Koppen, Mankins, Kaczur, Yates and O’Callaghan — has been playing together for several seasons, giving the line much-valued experience and familiarity.

But the right side of the unit is a bit of a question mark. Neal left the Super Bowl with a knee injury and hasn’t been on the field since, and it’s not known what will happen to Kaczur, who was arrested in April for illegal possession of the oxycodone and then cooperated with federal agents in a sting of his alleged supplier.

The signing of Ross last month (who also is coming off an injury) and Clement yesterday give depth at tackle, and they could challenge backups O’Callaghan and Britt for playing time.

Koppen, Mankins and Light all went to the Pro Bowl last season, meaning Brady’s blindside has some top-quality protection.

Tomorrow: Defensive line and cornerbacks.

smanza@projo.com