Meriweather mending

Five games into a frustrating rookie season, Chad Jackson was asked what advice he would give a first-year player in his situation. "Don't get hurt," replied the Patriots receiver, who opened training camp last year on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a hamstring injury that persisted into the season.

First-round pick Brandon Meriweather has already gone awry of Jackson's recommendation. Meriweather, sidelined by a hamstring injury, was not on the field during the Patriots' three-day minicamp last week, although he was in Foxborough working out. The rookie defensive back was also absent from the passing camp session the Patriots opened to the media last month.

Perhaps Bill Belichick and Co. have learned their lesson from Jackson, whose 2006 season became a cautionary tale for rushing a rookie back from an injury before he's fully healed. Jackson, a second-round pick, showed flashes of brilliance while playing in 12 games but finished with only 13 catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns.

He missed two games, including the opener, because of the hamstring and was sidelined for two games by a groin injury late in the season. Now he's rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament and his status is in doubt.

The Patriots can't afford a repeat with Meriweather, especially if they want him to play cornerback, which has been discussed. With Asante Samuel balking at signing his franchise tender and threatening to hold out, it would make sense to have the versatile Meriweather join the mix at cornerback, where Ellis Hobbs, Chad Scott, Randall Gay, and Tory James are the top four heading into training camp, barring a change of heart by Samuel. (Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, said yesterday there's been no change in his client's stance.)

Although most projected Meriweather as a safety coming out of the University of Miami, the Hurricanes frequently used the 5-foot-11-inch, 195-pounder to cover receivers in the slot.

"That was a good matchup for us," said former Miami coach Larry Coker.

During his senior season, Meriweather started three straight games at cornerback, two on the right side. He played left corner against Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 pick in the draft. Johnson finished with five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

"He played that position and did well, and I think he can do well with it at the next level," said Coker. "He's smart and has good cover skills. He has good flexibility in his hips and some experience at corner with us."

Considering New England's history of injuries at the position and its rivalry with the pass-happy Colts, getting Meriweather time at corner seems like a sound insurance policy. But first he needs to get healthy.

Laurence Maroney, who has been slowed by offseason shoulder surgery, said when it comes to injuries, it doesn't matter whether you're a rookie.

"Injuries can affect anybody's season," said Maroney. "But one thing you got to do is just continue to work hard, because you really can't worry about it. All you got to do is just work hard, get better, and try to get back out there."

Maroney provided an update on Jackson's status: "I talk to Chad every day. He's like a brother to me. Me and him are together every day. We ride to practice every day. He's actually doing good. I can't speak about him because I'm not him. But he's been getting better, and me and him have been working out and running and doing what we have to do to get better every day." . . . After 10 days of fan voting for the Patriots Hall of Fame, Stanley Morgan leads Ben Coates and the late Ron Burton. Voting closes Aug. 1. Fans can cast their votes at patriots.com.

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.