FOXBORO — The Patriots picked an odd time to make rookie offensive tackle Marcus Bryant a healthy scratch.

Bryant had been active every game this season until the first week that rookie left tackle Will Campbell was inactive on injured reserve with a knee injury against the Giants. The Patriots started Vederian Lowe at left tackle and made veteran Thayer Munford Jr., who had just been re-signed off the Browns’ practice squad, the team’s swing tackle.

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Bryant was also a healthy scratch last week against the Bills.

Just decided to go with Thayer,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday afternoon. “He’s helped us out a lot and it’s a good jumbo package. Marcus is working hard. We take eight (offensive linemen) to the game. We try to figure out what combination is best for each game. That could change next week, but Marcus has worked hard, and again, I think trying to improve.”

Bryant has played 18 offensive snaps this season. He was inserted into garbage time in Weeks 4 and 7. Then he filled in for right tackle Morgan Moses in Week 12 against the Bengals when the veteran starter missed time during the game with an illness but returned. That was the same game that Campbell suffered his injury. Lowe came in for Campbell, and Bryant hasn’t been active since.

For the first 12 weeks of the season, the Patriots dressed two backup tackles in Lowe and Bryant. Since Campbell’s been on injured reserve, that number has been reduced to one, Munford. The Patriots have also dressed Caedan Wallace, who was drafted as a tackle but moved to guard this summer. In a pinch, Wallace would likely be able to move back to tackle.

Bryant was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Missouri, where he was the Tigers’ starting left tackle. At times this summer in training camp, Bryant appeared to be the Patriots’ top backup tackle.

Munford has started 18 career NFL games and played under Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on the Raiders.