Tank Williams defends a pass in training camp last July, before a knee injury ended his 2008 season.

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach

Lost amid all the speculation over who might join the New England Patriots in the coming weeks – draft picks, Jason Taylor, Julius Peppers – is one player already on the roster who could have a big impact.

Tank Williams, whom the Patriots signed last year as a free agent, was working at inside linebacker––not his customary safety spot––during offseason camps and training camp, and seemed to be doing well.

But then Williams tore his right ACL in the first preseason game of the year, against Baltimore, and for the third time in his career saw his season come to a premature end. In 2004, with the Titans, he tore his left ACL. In 2006, just days into his first training camp with Minnesota, he fractured a kneecap.

It was another setback in the once-promising career of a former second-round draft pick. The Titans picked Williams after an All-American career at Stanford, and he started the first 45 games of his career before the 2004 ACL injury. He came back to find his place in the Tennessee lineup, and parlayed an 83-tackle, seven-passes-defensed 2005 season into a big free-agent deal with the Vikings. But after missing his first season, he was a reserve in 2007.

Last year, Williams signed a one-year “prove-it” deal with New England. But even though he never played a down in the regular season, Williams obviously showed the Patriots enough that they brought him back this year.

“It was disappointing, definitely,” Williams said, of the latest knee injury. “But at the same time, it was one of those freak things that come out of nowhere. I had to focus on rehabbing from the injury and doing what I could to help the team.

“The coaches thought enough of me to bring me back; hopefully I’ve gotten the injury bug out.”

The Pats are no doubt hoping the same thing. If Williams can adapt at inside linebacker, he could find a home there alongside Jerod Mayo or possibly in a rotation with Tedy Bruschi. However, with Rodney Harrison’s future still up in the air–he recently told the Boston Herald he’ll make a decision by June 1 on whether or not to retire –Williams could also move back to safety.

Or he could be a hybrid, a role Harrison perfected in recent years with New England.

Either way, Williams is appreciative that the Patriots have given him another chance.

“I’ve always had that mind-set to do what I can. I feel I can definitely help this team. As long as I’m able to participate, I’ll go out there and try to help the team out.”

Now eight months removed from the injury, Williams’ rehab is going well and progressing on schedule. He doesn’t anticipate any setbacks, though he’s not sure at this point whether he’ll take part in passing camps and mini-camps, or jump right in for training camp. That will be up to the team trainers to decide.

While much of his time was spent rehabbing, Williams said he spent his free moments reading, including re-reading a text from his time in the NFL’s business and entrepreneurship program, held in 2007 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He corresponded with the professor who wrote the book, discussing its finer points.

If there’s one good thing that came from his being sidelined, it’s that Williams was able to get a better understanding of the playbook.

“I guess I have a head start this year as opposed to last year,” he said. “You never want to get injured, but that’s what you have to do during the rehab process, is stay positive.”

But make no mistake: He is itching to get back on the field. Asked what he missed most about being on the sidelines, he said it was the games.

“Just the Sundays,” he said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie that happens [during practices and meetings], but you live to be out there on Sunday nights and Monday nights. I miss that excitement; it’s definitely one of the things you look forward to.”

If all goes well, Williams will be in uniform Sept. 14, when New England hosts Buffalo under the bright lights of Monday Night Football.

smanza@projo.com