As a fifth-round rookie for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, linebacker Mack Wilson played 943 defensive snaps in 16 games. In the four seasons since, the former Alabama standout has played 1,033 defensive snaps – only 90 more than he had in his first campaign – in 57 games.

But Wilson has taken on a larger role for the New England defense as the 2023 season has progressed, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the linebacker had earned it.

“Mack’s had a really good year for us,” Belichick said. “He’s had a really good year. I think the additional time, familiarity with the defense has allowed him to — I mean, Mack’s very athletic. He’s a tremendous athlete, fast, explosive, very strong and a very talented player — but I think it’s allowed him to play faster and aggressively. He still has his full role in the kicking game. He has a big role on defense. He’s emerged into the pass-rush grouping on third down with a couple of the guys that we’ve lost there. And he’s retained that through his performance.

“And I would say overall discipline and communication and role in the defense — you could say that about a lot of the guys, too –but certainly he’s had an outstanding year for us. He just continues to really get a little bit better every week. It’s great to see the growth and the production that he’s had.”

After playing 236 defensive snaps for New England in 17 games in 2022, Wilson has 231 through 13 games in 2023.

After recording three tackles for loss across the previous three seasons, Wilson has three in 2023, including one in each of the past two games. He also registered his first full sack since Nov. 3, 2019, during the Patriots’ 21-18 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

“With the opportunities I get, I try to make those plays, honestly, and I’m just going to continue to keep building on it,” Wilson said. “… I feel like it’s just having that second year in the system allows me to play faster, not think as much and it kind of allowed me to just line up wherever on the defense because I know it and just be able to plug-and-play basically.”

New England has a 3-10 record even though the Patriots defense ranks eighth in fewest yards allowed and third in fewest passing yards allowed this season.

“I think I read a quote from (New England linebacker) Jahlani (Tavai) earlier from his media session,” Wilson said, “and he said something about you don’t want to put bad tape out there regardless of what your record is, so you’re always playing for something. Not only are you playing for the Patriots, but there’re, obviously, 31 other teams watching to see how you respond when things aren’t going well.

“I feel like we just got to do a good job of keeping the main thing the main thing and taking that next step. For me, I’ve just been taking advantage of whatever opportunity I get and just make the most of it.”

The Patriots will kick off against the Kansas City Chiefs at noon CST Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as the only AFC team that has been eliminated from playoff consideration.

“The mood is good still, I feel like, because at the end of the day it’s our job,” Wilson said. “Like (wide receiver Matthew Slater) mentioned after the game, we have everything to lose because we’ve still got a lot to play for – our families, our kids, even each other – so we’re just looking forward to taking it one week at a time, obviously with KC first, and we’re just going to try to finish out, win the rest of these and see what else is in store at the end. …

“I feel like everybody’s been doing a good job of keeping their head high, honestly, trying our best to put our best foot forward.”

A two-time All-State selection at Carver High School in Montgomery, Wilson played at Alabama in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

As an NFL rookie, Wilson entered the Browns’ starting lineup when Christian Kirksey got hurt in the second game. Wilson went on to finish second on Cleveland with 82 tackles that season.

But Wilson went down in training camp on Aug. 18, 2020, with what was described as a significantly hyperextended left knee. The injury caused Wilson to miss the first two games of the season, and he didn’t make the first of his eight starts in 2020 until the sixth game. Wilson’s tackle total dropped to 39 as he played about 40 percent of the snaps in his second season that he did as a rookie.

In 2021, the Browns beefed up their linebackers room, and Wilson finished fifth among Cleveland’s linebackers in defensive playing time.

On March 15, 2022, the Browns traded Wilson to New England in exchange for linebacker Chase Winovich. Wilson was on the field for 284 special-teams plays last season, and he has 237 so far in 2023 after re-signing with the Patriots as a free agent during the offseason.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.