The Patriots didn’t make any additions to their 53-man roster ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

The Patriots had until Tuesday at 4 p.m. to swing any trades. They dealt away safety Kyle Dugger to the Steelers and defensive end Keion White to the 49ers last week but did not make any acquisitions via trade.

Related Articles

Patriots film review: What Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel must fix to be Super Bowl contenders

How Patriots HC Mike Vrabel responded to Falcons’ ‘clapgate’ accusation

Mike Vrabel addresses how Patriots are handling this week’s NFL trade deadline

Mike Vrabel provides injury update on Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte

Callahan: Patriots’ cracks starting to show ahead of showdown in Tampa Bay

The team has taken a long-term approach to team building despite their 7-2 start.

“I’ll remind you, we’re eight games into what we feel like is a program that we want to build, and we have to continue to find ways to improve, figure it out and get it right, and that’s all we’re trying to do,” head coach Mike Vrabel said last week. “Whether that’s having success early on in the season, mid-season or after the trade deadline, whatever that may be, I think we just have to continue to take that approach.”

The team’s biggest needs ahead of the trade deadline were at running back and edge defender. They’ll currently stick with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings at running back and Harold Landry III, K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Caleb Murphy at outside linebacker.

The Patriots also have running backs D’Ernest Johnson and Rushawn Baker on their practice squad and Jashuan Corbin on practice squad injured reserve. Outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson is also on the practice squad.

Instead of acquiring a running back to replace Antonio Gibson, who tore his ACL in Week 5, the Patriots instead elevated Jennings off of the practice squad in three straight weeks then signed him to the 53-man roster last Wednesday.

Jennings has carried the ball 18 times for 68 yards with a touchdown and caught one 9-yard pass in four games this season.

Stevenson missed last week’s win over the Falcons with a toe injury. To fill his spot on the active roster, Johnson was elevated from the practice squad.

The Patriots have been inconsistent in their ability to run the ball this season, though they have improved over the last three weeks. Stevenson has rushed 83 times for 279 yards with three touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 169 yards. He’s also fumbled three times. Henderson has carried the ball 67 times for 283 yards with a touchdown and fumbled once. He’s also caught 20 passes for 131 yards.

The Patriots rank 31st in EPA (expected points added) per rush and 29th in rush success rate. They’ve been one of the top passing offenses in the NFL and one of the worst at running the ball despite an offensive line that ranks eighth in ESPN’s run block win rate metric.

The Patriots’ defense ranks 19th in sacks with 20 on the season. They’re stout up front with Milton Williams, Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga at defensive tackle but could have used one more edge defender to assist the pass rush.

Landry and Chaisson lead the team with 5.5 sacks each. Landry has contibuted 36 total pressures while Chaisson has 32 on the season. Their backups have played inconsistently, however.

Anfernee Jennings, who was viewed as a trade candidate, sits behind Landry and Chaisson on the depth chart. He has just five total pressures on the year. Ponder, a rookie, has three pressures on 53 total snaps. Murphy, claimed off waivers from the Chargers two weeks ago, has yet to be active in the two games he’s been on the 53-man roster. Swinson also has yet to play this season.

White previously served as the Patriots’ third edge defender before being traded. He had just three total pressures in 123 snaps and struggled in run defense. Truman Jones, who was active for one game as a practice squad elevation, was signed away by the Titans last month.

Despite some issues consistently rushing the passer, the Patriots’ defense has excelled in the run game. They rank fourth in EPA per rush and fifth in rush success rate. Their 75.4 rushing yards allowed per game is the league’s lowest mark. Their 3.6 yards allowed per attempt ranks third-lowest.