The New England Patriots signed former Vikings safety Tank Williams to a one-year contract on Wednesday.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Williams was a productive and durable player in his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, playing in all 16 games three times.

However, the 6-2, 223-pounder was plagued by injuries in his last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

A knee injury in training camp sidelined Williams for the entire 2006 season, and in 2007 he appeared in 13 games - making two starts - and registered 18 tackles.

A second-round pick in 2002, Williams has five career interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Williams was likely considered a fallback option for the Vikings to provide depth behind Darren Sharper and recent free-agent acquisition Madieu Williams.