Bruschi has surgery on wrist

If yesterday morning's practice is an indication, the team will be sticking with its 3-4 defense and opening tomorrow night's exhibition in Atlanta with veterans Barry Gardner and Don Davis at inside linebacker. The backups were six-year veteran Monty Beisel (he returned to practice Monday after missing five sessions) and rookie free agent Freddie Roach, while Larry Izzo and Eric Alexander worked with the third string.

There is also the possibility of switching to a 4-3 defense, which would take advantage of the depth and talent on the defensive line. In that scenario, Gardner or Beisel project as the middle linebacker.

The Patriots also could make a double switch in the 3-4, sliding Mike Vrabel from outside linebacker to inside linebacker, the move he made five games into the 2005 season. That would seemingly bump Tully Banta-Cain to a starting role at outside linebacker.

Another possibility is free agency, although the crop is thin.

One thing is certain: The players in the mix recognize the situation as a chance to be noticed.

``We all know what Tedy Bruschi can do and what he means to this defense," said the 33-year-old Davis, primarily a special teams contributor the last three seasons. ``Now what it does is give guys a chance to step up and show what they can do."

For players such as Davis and the 29-year-old Gardner, it's also a chance to see if they can turn back the clock. Davis hasn't started at linebacker since the 2001 and 2002 seasons with the Rams (15 starts), and Gardner has started only six games over the last five seasons (his career high was 13 in 2000).

The 6-foot-1-inch, 235-pound Davis has done a little of everything for the Patriots, even starting two games at safety at the end of the 2004 season. Now in his 11th season, he's kept his career on the upswing, even winning an award in the team's offseason program this year for his increased speed.

``My mind-set is that I know I can do this and I think they know they can count on me to get the job done," Davis said. ``So now it's just about going out and showing it."