FOXBORO — They are members of a small fraternity, a unique group that no one wants to be a part of. Call it the Curse of the Third-Round Picks.

Outside linebacker Shawn Crable, a third-round selection of the Patriots in 2008, spent the last two seasons on the shelf with a variety of injuries. Inside linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, a third-round choice in 2009, was out all of last season with a knee injury he suffered during rookie minicamp. And wide receiver Brandon Tate, another third-round pick in 2009, did play two games, but he struggled with a knee injury that eventually got him a spot on injured reserve on Nov. 14.

While Tate was able to get into a typical routine for a couple of weeks before he had to shut it down, the three young players share an unfortunate bond: They’ve already spent more time on injured reserve than on the active roster, living the bulk of their professional lives in the strange in-between world of injured reserve.

Players who have been on injured reserve while with the Patriots are consigned to a strange kind of limbo. Several players have described it as a difficult process — you are still part of the team, but when it comes to rehab and work in the weight room are often singular pursuits. That often leaves a player feeling like he’s on the outside looking in.

On Wednesday, the three got their first real opportunity to feel like members of a team again — the three were sweating it out with their teammates on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium during organized team activities on Wednesday.

While the trio was sidelined together through the bulk of the 2009 season, but Tate said the three didn’t spend a whole lot of time commiserating about their situation.

“Nah, we know our situation. We didn’t really talk about it,” said Tate, who suffered two separate knee injuries. “We would just go in there and go to work and just try and get better. Trying to get on the field.”

Crable and McKenzie have yet to play a snap at the NFL level, but Tate does have a small body of work to build on as a pro. According to Pro Football Focus, he was on the field for 25 snaps last season, and showed flashes of brilliance, including an 11-yard end-around against the Bucs in London.

But he said that’s not the sort of abbreviated rookie campaign you can feel good about.

“I’m no veteran. I’ll leave that up to the older guys. I’m just trying to learn from them and just trying to get better,” Tate said. “For me, I feel like I haven’t done [anything], to tell you the truth. That’s why I’m taking this whole offseason, trying to get everything back down pat, and hopefully, I’ll be out there when the season starts.”

While Tate enters a somewhat complicated picture at receiver, the same is true for McKenzie at the inside linebacker spot. The South Florida product (who talked about his road back earlier this month here) will face spirited competition with players like Gary Guyton and rookie Brandon Spikes for snaps at the inside linebacker spot opposite Jerod Mayo.

Meanwhile, it would certainly appear that Crable has a golden opportunity to make a sizable impact in 2010. The Patriots struggled to get pressure on the quarterback in 2009, and did not acquire an impact pass rusher in free agency. In addition, they only went after one player in the draft who could be classified as a pass rusher in Florida’s Jermaine Cunningham.

As a collegian, Crable certainly showed an ability to get to the quarterback. In 47 games at Michigan, Crable started 20 contests at strong-side linebacker, and had 16 sacks and finished seventh in school history with 43 stops for losses of 163 yards. (In addition, his 28.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2007 set a Michigan season-record.)

But Crable, who has been sidelined with shin and groin injuries for the last two seasons, said it’s been “frustrating” process.

“When your mind is saying you can do something and your body is not reacting to it, it’s a frustrating deal,” he said. “But I got in the training room this year, worked with Mike [Woicik] and them, focused on my body, keeping me healthy so I can get out there and perform this year.

“You doubt yourself then you start getting confident. You take a couple steps forward then you take a couple steps back,” he added. “You’ve just got to start with the end in mind, keep progressing. I had a lot of people talking to me telling me it'll be all right if we just keep working at it. I feel like we’re getting there.”

This week marks a new start for Crable, who appeared active in position drills on Wednesday and talked optimistically about his future in a Patriots uniform.

“It feels good to be out there, get mental reps, taking your mind through the calls and stuff like that,” Crable said. “I’m glad to be out there working with the guys and stuff like that instead of watching. I’m happy to be out there.”