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FOXBORO - Amid reports that linemate Jarvis Green underwent knee surgery during the bye week, Patriots' defensive tackle Mike Wright probably anticipated he would be swarmed with media members Tuesday, all seeking indications of what Green's absence would mean for this Sunday's game at home against the Miami Dolphins.

As well-coached as Wright is on the field, he's just as adept at sidestepping the direct question off it.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask Bill that," Wright said when asked how the team would cope with the loss of Green.

For his part, Wright has already seen a lot of snaps at defensive end, and the results have been good. He's the team's sack leader with four and quarterback hits with six.

"I try to take what I do in practice more to the field,' he said. "Comfort level, experience ... it's all playing into it, my production. I'm just thankful it's happening." But the challenge will be stoked up a notch Sunday against the 3-4 Dolphins (1 p.m.; Ch. 4, 12) if Green is out of action. A report on the Comcast SportsNet New England web site said that Green underwent the surgical procedure during the bye week and could be out until early December, which makes Wright the most likely replacement.

The team, as usual, did not confirm any surgical procedure. Green, walking through the Patriots' locker room without a limp, said he was "off limits" for comments.

Wright gave a quasi-confirmation, however, when asked if it would be tougher to face the Dolphins without Green in the lineup.

"Yeah, it's tough," he said. "It's tough to lose any player on the defense. But we're going to let Jarvis handle his business and we're going to take care of what we can on the field."

Wright, in his fifth season out of Cincinnati, said he was prepared to take on additional responsibilities.

"I've been playing a little bit more there since (Richard) Seymour's gone, and Jarvis is over there," he said. "So I've been backing up Jarvis a little more over there, and it's been good. I've been getting a lot of reps over there in games, and it's been helping me out a lot. I've been a lot more comfortable over there, but we'll see where they put me."

The biggest challenge, of course, will be Miami's use of the "Wildcat" offense, in which running back Ronnie Brown takes a direct snap from center and has a myriad of options before him. That play was the Patriots' worst nightmare in a 38-13 Miami win at Gillette Stadium last Sept. 21, and even though a year has passed since the Dolphins unveiled it, it's still wreaking havoc with opposing defenses.

"They're not going to be the same team they always are," Wright said. "They're going to have something in their game plan that's going to throw us off a little, like they always do. So we'll be ready."

The Patriots may be a little more familiar with Wildcat tendencies from what happened in that 2008 game and what they've seen on film since.

"I think it gives the running back a little more time to read the defense and see where everything is because he's getting the ball right off the bat," Wright said. "Ronnie Brown will be keeping the ball a lot of times, so I think that gives him an edge." Asked if passing the ball out of the Wildcat is a viable option, Wright offered a qualified yes.

"A little bit," he said, "but when they're in that Wildcat, it pretty much means run. But they do have that ability to pass, so that kind of throws people off. But run is our main concern."

Wright also said that a key to defending the Wildcat is not to fall prey to all the shifting and motion on the other side of the line of scrimmage, to be patient and to execute what has been covered in practice and meetings.

"I'm just going to try to stay patient and play a little bit slower," he said. "It's the same offense, the same kind of plays, it's just a running back taking the ball."

It also helps that once Patriots' coach Bill Belichick and his staff see something new, they generally figure out how to counter it - part of the reason why last year's Patriots won the second meeting, 48-28, in Miami.

"He does do a great job of preparing us," Wright said. "I don't know what they do at other teams, but we can rely on the coach having us ready."

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com. Read Farinella's blog, "Blogging Fearlessly," at thesunchronicle.com/farinella.