updated 5:18 p.m. ET Sept. 3, 2008

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick expects Tom Brady to be ready Sunday for the season opener against Kansas City after the NFL’s reigning MVP missed all four exhibition games.

“He’s practicing this week and I expect he’ll be ready to go,” Belichick said Wednesday during a conference call with Kansas City reporters.

Asked if that meant that the quarterback, who has had an injured right foot, would play, Belichick said: “He’s been practicing all week. I expect him to be out there today and I expect him to be out there the rest of the week.”

Brady, who participated fully in practice Wednesday, said Monday the condition of his foot has improved and he could have played in all four exhibition games.

Wednesday’s practice report listed the quarterback with right shoulder and foot injuries. But last year’s practice reports listed him with the shoulder injury in every game and he started all of them. Brady has started 127 straight games, the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history.

“If it’s up to me, there’s no question” that he would play against the Chiefs, Brady said Monday. “I’ve been getting progressively better over the past couple of weeks. I’m excited. I’m excited to start the year.”

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