FOXBOROUGH, MASS.

Vince Wilfork is getting used to some new playing partners along the defensive line — again.

Entering his ninth season, the Patriots slimmed-down lineman is working with veteran newcomers Jonathan Fanene and Trevor Scott and rookies Chandler Jones, a first-round pick, and Jake Bequette, taken in the third.

Gone from last season are Andre Carter, Mark Anderson, Shaun Ellis and Mike Wright.

“I can play with anybody,” Wilfork said Wednesday. “That’s just the trust I have in those guys to learn what they have to learn.”

After playing 122 regularseason games, and missing just six, since being drafted by New England in the first round in 2004, he can help them do that.

“If they have questions, they can always ask me because I’ve been around this for a little bit,” he said. “Not saying I know everything, but I’ve been around for a while and kind of know what to expect. So, I think we all do a real good job of helping one another.”

Wilfork received plenty of help as a rookie when he started six games at nose tackle. Then Richard Seymour, Ty Warren and Keith Traylor were the primary starters in the three-man line.

Since then, other starters along the defensive line included Jarvis Green, Ron Brace, Derrick Burgess, Tully Banta-Cain, Brandon Deaderick, Gerard Warren, Landon Cohen, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor, Eric Moore and Rob Ninkovich.

Some started just one game. Others were longtime teammates of Wilfork.

‘Things changed’

“You get attached to some people,” Wilfork said. “I remember coming in, I had Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green, Ty Warren next to me, and (Mike) Vrabel and Willie McGinest. Over the years things changed.

“I’ve been around long enough to understand how this thing goes, and if they need my help, I’m always here. But it’s tough because you get attached to people and you get a chance to know people off the field, not just on the field — the families and stuff like that. So, for people to move on, it can be heartbreaking at times. But, at the same time, change always happens at this level. So, you have to get used to it real quick.”

Wilfork has lost weight from his usual 330-pound frame.

“I took my offseason real serious,” he said. “I do each year. It’s just grinding and a lot of hard work. They say the older you get, the harder it is, so I just wanted to be sure I was in tip-top shape coming into camp.”

Wilfork was named to his fourth Pro Bowl last season. But he’s not looking back, especially since the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 21-17 on a last-minute touchdown. It was the final collapse of a defense that allowed the second most yards in the NFL during the regular season.

“You can’t pay attention to last year,” Wilfork said. “You’ve got to move forward. Each year is different.”

The Patriots used six of their seven draft picks on defensive players, including linebacker Dont’a Hightower in the first round, and added veterans Steve Gregory and Will Allen to the secondary, Bobby Carpenter at linebacker and Scott and Fanene to the line.

“Hopefully, these guys can help this ballclub,” Wilfork said. “I’m excited to play with these guys.”