Patriots stalwart Troy Brown has recovered from his off-season knee surgery and says he is ready to hit the football field and join New England’s run to the postseason.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

FOXBORO — ThePatriots career-leader in receptions, Troy Brown, spoke for the first time yesterday about preparing for the season. Brown began the season, his 15th in the NFL, on injured reserve.

“I’m always excited to be around this game,” said Brown, who has 557 career catches for 6,366 yards (second most in team history) and 31 receiving touchdowns. “My opportunity came up and I got a chance to be a part of this and I’m just looking forward to coming in here and getting ready for this game. All I can do is take it one day at a time, one play at a time.”

Brown, who tore his ACL in the AFC Championship Game last season, spent a lot of long hours in the gym rehabbing his knee and working out with Patriots strength and conditioning coaches Mike Woicik, Don Davis and Harold Nash to get ready for the season.

“I came in here and just did what I had to do, and did what I was asked to do — going to get treatment, rehabbing, whatever it was,” Brown said. “I never really worried about what was going to happen in the future. I was just worried about getting through the day that I was in and looking forward to the next game. That’s something that is out of my control and something that I can’t worry about — things that I have no control over. I was just taking care of my business and doing what I had to do.”

New England now has seven receivers on its roster, so finding a place in the Patriots’ lineup might prove difficult, especially because New England’s offense has played so well. The Patriots are averaging 40.2 points per game and 310.2 yards through the air.

Drafted in 1993 by the Patriots in the eighth round (198th overall) out of Marshall, Brown said that he is willing to play anywhere the coaches put him on the field — offense, defense, and special teams.

“Whatever my role is, whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’ll do it,” Brown said. “It’s the same thing that it has been in the past. Whatever I’ve been asked to do, I’ve been ready to step up and do it.”

New England coach Bill Belichick said that Brown’s role will be determined on a “week-to-week basis.”

“Troy is a versatile guy for us. He’s done a lot of different things around here,” Belichick said. “He’s played on offense, defense, special teams and obviously [is a] very experienced player, a guy that has done a lot of different things, and I think has the opportunity to fill different spots for us. We’ll see how that works out on a game-to-game basis and that’s the way it’s been here for a while. That’s the way it will be this week, that’s the way it will be next week.”

Belichick said that he wouldn’t rule out Brown playing on defense.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out. Anything is possible,” Belichick said. “We’ll do whatever we need to do. I’m not going to sit here and say we’re not going to do something we think will help us win. Whatever it is, we’ll do it. That’s what we’re here for.”

Brown began his NFL career as a special teams player and blossomed into one of the best receivers for the franchise.

He has been giving his input at team meetings this season and he said that he has enjoyed watching the Patriots offense.

“I’ve been around and I had a chance to hang out with a lot of the guys so it’s not like I haven’t been here at all,” said Brown, who owns the franchise record for receptions in a game (16) and in a season (101). “I had a chance to be around these guys and see how much fun they were having out there. It has been a joy for me to watch. This team has been doing really well. It’s always a little easier to watch when the team is winning. If we were losing, then it would be another story.

“The competitive side of me wants to be on the field and out there competing with those guys but I was in this situation and there was nothing I could do about it. All I can do is do what I can do and let the rest of it [fall] into place.”

Brown’s teammates are pleased that he is back.

“He’s a smart guy,” fellow receiver Donte Stallworth said. “That’s one thing that he brings to the table — his intelligence from this being his 99th year in the NFL. Troy’s been in, I think, four or five Super Bowls. He’s been in this game a long time and he knows how to play. Anytime you get a guy like that, you try to soak up some information from him, so that’s definitely something that he brings to the table and into our meeting rooms —intelligence and experience.”

“It’s great to see him. I know he’s excited,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “He’s been working very, very hard. [He’s] played a long time and it’s great to have him up and available. I sure hope he makes a big impact on the team. He always does, just with his leadership, his ability to bring people together and he always has positive words. He’s a great leader. He’s a great teammate and everybody loves having Troy Brown.”

Brown said that he hopes to contribute Monday night against Baltimore.

roblee@projo.com