The mistake led to a dip in playing time in ensuing weeks, but now Wilhite's back - and with a promotion.
Instead of serving as the fifth defensive back in sub packages, the fourth-round draft choice has been thrust into the starting lineup in place of the struggling Deltha O'Neal. Wilhite has accounted well for himself the last two weeks against the Seahawks and Raiders, notching his first career interception last Sunday in Oakland.
Yet Wilhite knows there is no time to look back, because what comes next is a whole new level - the NFL's No. 2-ranked passing attack of the Arizona Cardinals, led by quarterback Kurt Warner and receivers Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Steve Breaston.
"It's crazy, going against a great quarterback with all that experience and an offense that has three guys with almost 1,000 yards [receiving]," the 24-year-old Wilhite said yesterday before the Patriots practiced in the rain inside Gillette Stadium. "It's going to be a big challenge for us in the secondary, and as a defense period."
One of the themes coming out of the Patriots' locker room was that it will take all 11 members on defense to slow down the Cardinals (some nasty New England weather might help, too), and given what had unfolded against the Colts it's a nice comeback story that Wilhite will be one of those 11.
"Jonathan has done a good job the last few weeks; he's had an opportunity and he's been able to capitalize on it," said coach Bill Belichick. "The challenge for him is now that teams have seen more of his play, they might start attacking him. Sometimes when you are a young corner, you don't get too much of that until they get enough of you on film."
Attacking is the Cardinals' specialty, as Warner leads the NFL in passing attempts (550), completions (376), and completion percentage (68.4). He's also fired 26 touchdown passes.
