The Patriots won’t add available offensive tackle depth before their final game of the season despite starter Trent Brown’s uncertain status.

Tyrone Wheatley Jr., who was acquired via trade from the Browns for running back Pierre Strong before the season, won’t be brought off of injured reserve before his activation window is closed, head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday. Wheatley, who has been back practicing with the team for three weeks, played just five special teams snaps all season.

Brown, who was removed from the injury report Friday, was a healthy scratch in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. He also wasn’t spotted at practice Wednesday. The Patriots have had issues motivating Brown since he suffered ankle and knee injuries at midseason. Those injuries meant Brown would not receive all of the incentives baked into his contract as part of a restructure in September.

The Patriots started Vederian Lowe at left tackle on Sunday. Andrew Stueber, who was elevated off of the practice squad, was the team’s top backup behind Lowe and right tackle Mike Onwenu.

Wheatley and fellow tackles Calvin Anderson, Riley Reiff and Conor McDermott are on injured reserve. Anderson and Reiff were the top candidates to start at right tackle before the season began.

“Yeah, that’s not the way we thought it would happen when we acquired some of the guys at the beginning of the year,” Belichick said Wednesday. “But it is what it is.”

The injuries forced the Patriots to move Onwenu from right guard to right tackle after Week 6.

“He started the year at guard. We talked after the Las Vegas game and started playing at tackle,” Belichick said. “He’s really embraced that. I think he’s had a pretty good year out there. It’s not totally new for him. He’s been out there before. He’s seen a lot of good players and has done a pretty solid job.”

Onwenu is a free agent after the season and would be a valuable player to bring back for stability in 2024.