FOXBORO — Coming from the Baltimore Ravens' defensive system, Prescott Burgess feels he can handle just about anything.

Which is good, because the linebacker is about to have to learn a lot in a short amount of time.

The newest Patriot, traded from Baltimore to New England on Tuesday, was acquired to add some much-needed depth to a position in which the Patriots need a little help. A sixth-round draft pick out of Michigan in 2007, Burgess has been hampered by injuries — a broken forearm in the preseason ended his year in 2008, and his rookie season was cut short by a torn quad — but seems confident he can contribute to his new team.

Being traded "was a shock at first and I didn't really think it would happen, but it happened and that's the game of football. It's a business," he said. "You just have to make the (transition) and make sure that you make a good one, make a good first impression and that's what I'm going to do out here (during his first practice)," Burgess said.

"I don't think anything's real complicated (compared to) the Baltimore Ravens, they run just about everything, so I just play football. I think I can catch on real fast."

The 6-foot-3, 247-pounder, who like fellow former Wolverine Pierre Woods is an Ohio native who went to the other side of the Border War to play in college, said he's spoken with Woods about making the transition to New England and what he can expect.

Bill Belichick sees versatility from Burgess, who has played different linebacker spots as well as in the kicking game.

"He played inside and outside (linebacker) . . . he runs well, he's a big kid," Belichick said.

Burgess knows from his days with the Ravens that the more he can do as a player, it ups his importance to the team. He wouldn't say what his strengths are as a player, whether rushing the passer or as a run-stopper, but he said all the right things when asked what his role might be with the Pats.

"I go out there and try to do what the coaches want me to do and learn from practicing and all of that; you do training camp for a reason," he said. "I just go out there and try to do the technique and just go hard and show the coaches that this is a guy we want around here."

Burgess won't have to wait long to face his former teammates — the Ravens will be at Gillette on Oct. 4. He is looking forward to the opportunity to play against them, and also knows he may be called upon to provide inside information.

While he expressed shock at being moved, Burgess seems to realize that things could have been worse.

"I just came from one great team to another. I'm happy to be here," he said.

* * * *

During his weekly radio appearance on Monday afternoon, Belichick described the decision to hold Wes Welker out of last week's game against the Jets as one that came at game time, after Welker tested the knee at Giants Stadium.

So it was something of a surprise to see Welker as one of two players not on the field for the media-access window at practice on Wednesday; he had been listed as limited in practice both before the Buffalo game and the Jets game. He did play against the Bills.

But there may be hope: ESPN's Michael Smith reported on Wednesday that sources within the Patriots' organization expect Welker to play on Sunday against Atlanta.

* * * *

Former Patriots receiver David Givens has filed a $25 million lawsuit against the Tennessee Titans, claiming the team withheld medical information that indicated his knee could not withstand NFL football and encouraged him to play.

The suit was first reported by The Tennessean.

In U.S. District Court papers, Givens claims that he should have been told the results of an exam he underwent with an independent orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Byrd, before he signed a five-year contract with the Titans in March 2006.

Byrd apparently concluded that Givens would need surgery at some point to correct a large defect on the medial femoral condyle, where the upper leg bone connects to the knee joint, and probably would not be able to play an entire season. Givens was injured in November 2006 and has not played a game since.

The Patriots' final draft pick in 2002 — he was selected 253rd overall — Givens played in 53 games with 27 starts, scoring a touchdown in each of the two Super Bowls he played with the team.

* * * *

Sunday marks the Falcons' first visit to Gillette Stadium, and once they arrive, there will be just one team that has not played a regular-season or playoff game at The Razor, which opened in 2002: the Panthers. Carolina has played a preseason game at Gillette. … New England is 31-5 against NFC teams since 2001, winning 15 straight against clubs from the conference since 2005. The last time the Pats lost to an AFC club was on Sept. 18, 2005 at Carolina. … Brady's next touchdown pass will be the 200th of his career.

smanza@projo.com