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In a development that could signal that he has finally recovered from the undisclosed leg ailment that kept him out of practice for nearly a month in camp and off the field for all four preseason games, wide receiver Randy Moss was not listed on the New England Patriots' official injury report on Wednesday afternoon.

Moss

Typically the league's most cryptic franchise in terms of reporting injuries, the Patriots haven't offered even a hint yet about Moss' availability for the Sunday season opener against the New York Jets. But the fact the team's most notable offseason acquisition was not cited on the report could mean he is ready to return to the field and possibly to the starting lineup.

The league's new standards for reporting injuries now lists only two categories early in the week, "limited participation in practice" and "full participation in practice." The traditional injury standards -- doubtful, questionable and out -- do not apply until later in the week.

For the first time since Aug. 1, Moss participated Monday in a non-walkthrough practice with the Patriots, but stopped short of acknowledging that he will play against the Jets. Because the local reporters are not permitted to watch the "team" segments of practice, it is still uncertain just how much work Moss really has done. But it is believed that he has worked in all the key sessions so far and that there is a good chance he will finally make his debut with a New England team that harbors legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

Acquired by the Pats on the second day of the draft, Moss had been sidelined by an undisclosed leg injury, believed to be a strained hamstring, and he did not play in any of New England's four preseason contests. His return has been much anticipated.

"I'm all right," Moss told the local media before the team's Monday practice. "I've been nursing my injury or what-not. It was a long process. Of course, it got me very frustrated, because I had really high expectations for myself to come in here and be a part of the team. I didn't really get any preseason play, and I don't know if that helped me or hurt me. We'll see."

New England dramatically overhauled its wide receiver corps in the offseason, adding veterans such as Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington via trades or free agency signings. But the acquisition that created the biggest stir was the addition of Moss, who came to the Patriots after two disappointing seasons with the Oakland Raiders, and for the bargain basement price of a fourth-round draft choice.

The five-time Pro Bowl performer, one of the most explosive wide receivers in recent league history, looked good during minicamps and passing camps, and seemed to fit in well with quarterback Tom Brady and the rest of his new teammates. But the leg injury early in camp slowed Moss and New England officials clearly took a cautious stance in allowing him to fully rehabilitate and get ready for the regular season.

A team official told ESPN.com two weeks ago that he felt Moss was making solid progress and would be ready for the start of the season.

Moss said Monday that he was not as concerned with his football conditioning as with being in synch with the rest of what is expected to be a high octane passing game. He emphasized that he does not want to hold the team back.

"I'm just really worked about fitting in and making sure I don't let this team slow down because of me," Moss said.

The nine-year veteran has 676 catches for 10,700 yards and 101 touchdowns in his career. But he slumped to just 42 receptions for 553 yards and three touchdowns, all career lows, in Oakland in 2006. Critics said that Moss looked disinterested at times, as the Raiders won just two games, but New England coach Bill Belichick, who has consistently cited Moss' competitiveness, did not feel that his effort was lacking.

While the distribution pattern of the New England offense probably means that Moss will never catch 100 passes in the Patriots' design, as he did in 2002 and 2003 with the Minnesota Vikings, the Patriots seemed confident before the leg injury that he maintained big-play skills. New England coaches feel that Moss is still a vertical threat and that he provides the team a different dimension in the "red zone" as well. Moss has scored 10 or more touchdowns in six seasons.

A first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 1998, he was dealt to the Raiders in a 2005 trade.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.