FOXBORO -- Just over a month ago, we took a look at some of the positional battles we were most excited to see in Patriots training camp. Now, one week into camp, we take a look at how some of those battles are shaping up.

Running back: To this point, Stevan Ridley has taken the bulk of the snaps with the starting offense, and certainly looks like the closest thing this team has to a feature back. Shane Vereen hasn’t stood out (either in a positive or a negative fashion), but has displayed a good burst when called upon. (He’s also clearly enthused about working as a part of the screen game, while Ridley was a little more tempered in his enthusiasm.)

As for the rest of the crew, Danny Woodhead appears firmly entrenched in the role of third-down back -- he has been consistent throughout camp, both carrying the ball and working as a receiver. Meanwhile, undrafted free agent Brandon Bolden has run decisively and done everything well when he’s been called upon -- with the exception of a bad fumble in Tuesday’s practice.

One more thing: He probably won’t be called upon to contribute much this season, but it’s starting to become evident what the franchise saw in Bolden. His fumble aside, he’s certainly looked impressive in the few reps he’s received.

Wide receiver: It’s easy to spot the first three receivers: Brandon Lloyd, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney. If you’re a Patriots fan, it’s easy to get excited about the prospect of Tom Brady and Lloyd working together, as they have already produced several highlight reel plays. Welker remains his usual dependable self, while Gaffney has also distinguished himself through the first week. That leaves Deion Branch and Donte’ Stallworth (we’re going to assume both Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater make it because of their special teams experience). And while Stallworth certainly had a very good night on Wednesday, getting extra reps with the starters because of Lloyd’s absence, at least at this point, it looks like Branch will be the one to take the final spot.

One more thing: Anyone who questions whether or not Welker’s contract will distract the wide receiver hasn’t seen him operate in camp. There was one sequence on Wednesday night during a drill where he had about 10 yards to maneuver, and he shook Kyle Arrington on four separate pass plays, showing a remarkable ability to gain separation in a small space. The dude has come to play this year.

Middle/inside linebacker: The Patriots continue to shuffle guys through as they attempt to find a good combination at the spot. The one player who has spent more time there than any other is Jerod Mayo, and he’s played next to a handful of guys including Brandon Spikes, Dont’a Hightower and Bobby Carpenter. In a week of camp, it’s become evident that Spikes and Hightower have a similar skill set, in that they are both guys whose strengths are playing the run. It will be interesting to see who the Patriots stick in there in third-down and other passing situations -- at different points in camp, Carpenter and Hightower were getting reps opposite Mayo when the Patriots went to their nickel packages.

One more thing: One guy who shouldn’t be overlooked in this competition is Dane Fletcher. He doesn’t have the same pedigree as the rest of the field, but he’s been competitive in his reps, and his two years in the system certainly count for something.

Cornerback: The combo that’s gotten the most reps to this point has been Devin McCourty at one corner, Ras-I Dowling at the other and Arrington working in the slot. While none of them are All-Pro’s, if Dowling is able to stay healthy, that would give the Patriots three competitive corners and some good depth at the spot, with Sterling Moore (outside), Will Allen (in the slot) and possibly Marquice Cole among those who could mix in at corner as needed.

One more thing: It’s worth remembering that you have to take the overall assessment of the New England secondary with a grain of salt, as it is operating against one of the best (and maybe the best) passing attack in the league on a daily basis. Patrick Chung talked about this on Thursday, saying that Tom Brady and the Patriots offense make them better.

Kick returner/punt returner: While Julian Edelman has done more than enough to secure a spot on the roster (and will likely be the first option when it comes to punt returner), the kick return spot remains wide open at this point. A flood of candidates have taken their shot at kick returner -- including Woodhead, Edelman, Vereen, Ridley and Stallworth -- but to this point, no one has really stood out. (It’s worth mentioning that Stallworth, who hasn’t returned a kick in a regular-season game since 2003 when he was 23, is doing whatever it takes to land a spot on the roster by increasing his special teams value.)

One more thing: This is looking more and more like a position that will ultimately be decided just before the start of the regular season, which means the performances in the preseason will play a big role in determining who will land the starters’ spot. It’s also a safe bet that the Patriots won’t go with just one regular kick returner.