Jonathan Wilhite, left, squaring off with Randy Moss in training camp last month, is back on the practice field for New England.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

FOXBORO — Being injured and missing two weeks of training camp workouts weren’t a dream scenario for Patriots rookie cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, but he may have been able to turn the time off into a positive.

Wilhite hurt his left hamstring in the closing minutes of New England’s Aug. 4 evening camp session, and didn’t return to the field until Tuesday.

But he had some company in the training room in Rodney Harrison, Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders. As many other young defensive backs have said in recent seasons, Wilhite cited Harrison as a mentor who encourages him to ask questions.

“I was hurt with Rodney; we were both rehabbing together, and we talked together and we went over plays and things because we play the same position (in the nickel package),” Wilhite said. “I got a lot of mental reps, I watched practice and I was in the meetings.

“Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders, we’re all defensive backs and we had a lot of time, so we worked out together, we ran together, and we talked about football. Everything worked out all right.”

The Patriots’ fourth-round pick, Wilhite said he has no problems with asking a lot of questions because he wants to “know every little thing.”

Now he can put the lessons learned while jogging to use on the field.

“Watching the guys go out and compete and you’re not able, it’s kind of hard,” he said. “But the most important thing is I’m healthy now, and I’m able to go out and practice and that’s what I was looking forward to. I’m happy about that.”

smanza@projo.com