New England Patriot linebacker Gary Guyton recently spent time off the field recuperating from a minor knee injury, but the former Bradwell Institute Tiger was back in action for the Patriots’ third pre-season game against the Rams on Aug. 26.

The most notable thing about Guyton’s return is the fact that he came off the bench and slid into the outside linebacker spot instead of lining up next to Jerod Mayo, as he had for the past two seasons.

Since Guyton’s Aug. 1 injury, rookie Brandon Spikes has shined at the inside linebacker spot and started in both of the Patriots’ pre-season victories against the Saints and Falcons.

With the inside positions looking solid and the outside spot still questionable, there was speculations whether Guyton would lose his starting role or be shifted to the outside.

On Aug. 4, NESN.com writer Jeff Howe posed that question to Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "Gary is a pretty versatile player," the coach told Howe. "I think he can do a lot of different things. He’s smart. He’s big. He’s athletic and runs very well, so he’s had a variety of roles for us on regular defense and our sub defenses. I wouldn’t rule it out, but he’s done well inside. He’s made a lot of progress over the last two years."

During an Aug. 24 interview with Jennifer Toland of the Telegram & Gazette, Guyton said he spent most of his recuperation time studying the playbook and watching film, but was ready to return to the action.

"I’ll take it play by play and see how things are going," he told Toland. "You always want to play. That’s what I’m here for. Mentally, I just come prepared for every game, every day of practice. You never know what’s going to happen, what my role is going to be. Whatever my role is going to be is what I’m going to play."

In Thursday’s 36-35 loss to the Rams, Guyton played in spurts at the outside spot.

Boston Herald reporter Ian Rapoport posted a blog stating his observations immediately after the loss.

"Brandon Spikes got the start at inside linebacker, meaning Gary Guyton came off the bench to be a super sub and play in passing downs. In fact, it worked well for Guyton. He rushed and he covered, with much coming on latter downs. With the way Spikes can stop the run, this was inevitable. Guyton looked good coming off the edges and seeing time as OLB," Rapoport wrote.

The Patriots close out their last pre-season game Thursday at the New York Giants.

It will air at 7 p.m. on FOX.