FOXBORO — In past training camps, Eugene Wilson has put in work at two jobs: safety and cornerback.

Wilson still has two jobs to tackle this camp, but they’re a bit different from the usual: playing safety and staying healthy.

The defensive back, who is beginning his fifth professional season — and the final year of his rookie contract — played in just four games last season before hamstring and groin injuries landed him on injured reserve.

The 26-year-old budding golfer — he placed second to Tom Brady in the long-drive contest with 281-yarder at the team’s charity golf tournament last month — has been spending as much time as possible with his young sons when he comes off the practice field (though the players live in a hotel for the first few weeks of camp, family and friends can watch the practice sessions at Gillette) and before meetings.

Wilson has been working almost exclusively at safety since camp began, a sharp contrast to past camps, when the former All-Big Ten corner at Illinois spent a great deal of time working at corner.

“It seems as if I’m moving to safety permanently as opposed to moving back and forth,” he said yesterday, just before a brief thunderstorm hit the area around the stadium. “But I always keep (the skills as a cornerback) because you never know when you’re going to need it.”

Though he was officially placed on IR before the 13th game last season, Wilson first injured his hamstring in September. He missed two games and then came back to play in Buffalo in Week Six, only to reinjure the muscle. It would be his last game of the year.

But if there was a silver lining to his injury, it was that it happened early enough in the season for Wilson to rehab and be basically healed at the start of the offseason program. Being able to work to make himself better — instead of work just to make himself healthy — has helped him thus far in camp.

“This offseason I have been able to do pretty much everything,” Wilson said. “A lot of offseasons, I’ve done half, or I’ve done a lot and got hurt. I had a good offseason and I’m looking forward to going out there (to play).”

Bill Belichick spoke yesterday about Wilson and Randall Gay, who was also hurt early during the season last year.

“Their offseason, I think, was their best one because they were healthy in the offseason. Eugene got injured early, but by the time the offseason program started, he was there and was able to train, as was Randall. I think they had their best offseasons and I think that’s put them in the best position going into the season,” Belichick said. “I think they’re ahead of where they’ve been (in previous training camps) and that’s been a plus for them.”

Though he played in just four games last season, Wilson was on pace to set a career-best in tackles, and may have passed 80 had he been able to play all 16 contests. Over his first three seasons, he was remarkably consistent, recording 66, 67, and 65 tackles and averaging three interceptions.

Despite missing three-quarters of a season, Wilson says he hasn’t lost much on the field. Like many veterans, he’s learned that becoming a better student of the game, paired with physical ability, makes for a better player:

“The more and more experience I get, I’ve become a smarter player,” he said.

With him ready to play and Rodney Harrison geared up for a season of redemption after his own injuries in recent years, Wilson is looking forward lining up next to his hard-hitting partner in the backfield.

That’s good news for the Patriots, not so great for opposing receivers.

smanza@projo.com