FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich is one of the team's more versatile players, which has shown up in recent practices with him working at an off-the-line linebacker role.

That's where Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower line up, and it's a throwback of sorts to 2008 when Ninkovich was playing off the line while on the Miami Dolphins' practice squad under coach Tony Sparano.

Watching Ninkovich in the role (he picked off Tom Brady on Tuesday) also sparked memories of the 2005 season when Mike Vrabel -- a player to whom Ninkovich is often compared -- made the move to an off-the-line role.

As for what it all means going forward, it simply could be a case of the coaching staff taking a look at something different at a time on the calendar when there is a luxury to do so. A team never knows when it might need a contingency plan, and that could be part of it as well, getting a better feel for depth in the event of injuries.

Other roster considerations could also be on the mind of Bill Belichick and his staff.

The Patriots appear to be deep at defensive end, with Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard, Chris Long, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom and Rufus Johnson. Free-agent signing Shea McClellin has also started his introduction to the team's system at defensive end. If keeping one more end means one fewer linebacker, knowing Ninkovich could play there in a pinch could factor into decision-making on the final 53-man roster.

For his part, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Ninkovich -- whose forte is rushing the passer (37 sacks over the last five seasons) and setting the edge in the running game -- is embracing the work off the line.

"For me, it's being an overall football player in every aspect of the game," he said. "Whatever it is, helping the team, just trying to learn different positions and being flexible. It's fun to learn different positions and just trying to master being inside, outside, end of the line, whatever I need to do."

For a Patriots defense that varies its fronts on a regular basis, a player like Ninkovich can be a chess piece of sorts. He takes pride in that.

"I've played multiple positions many times in my life, so whatever I'm at," he said, "it's really to help the team. ... That's one of the strengths of my game, being able to play different positions."