FOXBOROUGH, Mass – Things do not appearing to be going well between the New England Patriots and offensive tackle Trent Brown. 

Brown has been dealing with injuries throughout the season, forcing him to miss some games. But things really began to go downhill in the past few weeks. 

So now, it seems the Patriots may have decided to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. 

Despite being taken off the injury report on Friday, the Patriots marked Brown as a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

And that put his status for New England's regular season finale in question. However, on Wednesday morning, head coach Bill Belichick was asked if he expected the tackle to be in attendance during practice.

“Yeah," he confirmed. "I don’t think he’s on the injury report.”  

However, when practice rolled around, Brown was missing. And the injury report later stated he was out with an illness. He was also reportedly dealing with an illness last week on top of some other injuries. But that seemed to clear up on Friday. 

It will be interesting to see if Brown is in attendance on Thursday. 

Here is the timeline of the situation between Brown and the Patriots:

• After Malik Cunningham was signed by the Baltimore Ravens off the Patriots practice squad, Brown posted on social media with a strong message. And it seemed to hint at some issues within the organization. 

#Patriots OT Trent Brown on the #Ravens signing Malik Cunningham:

"Go flourish where your talent is respected" pic.twitter.com/SXshzq7ObK

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 12, 2023

• Brown then spoke exclusively with A to Z Sports about his comment on social media. He didn't hold back, explaining that "everybody on the team" wanted Cunningham to get a shot at quarterback this season, but it never happened. 

Trent Brown says what everyone has been thinking about Malik Cunningham

Trent Brown had a lot to say about this situation.

• Brown spoke with A to Z Sports exclusively once again the following week about his mindset heading into free agency and was very honest. He stated that if the Patriots had wanted him back it would have already happened so he's be doing a "disservice to not see what other opportunities are out there."

Patriots OT Trent Brown answers key question regarding free agency

Going to see how it goes.

• Brown was listed on the injury report on Wednesday and Thursday, leading to the Patriots Week 17 clash against the Bills. On Friday, he was completely removed, seeming to imply that he would play. However, he was a healthy scratch in the loss to Buffalo. 

• When the inactive list was released prior to the game, The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed provided some additional context. 
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  "Since Brown missed time with knee and ankle injuries at midseason, meaning he wouldn’t receive all of his increased pay, they’ve had trouble keeping him motivated over the final weeks of the season, according to a source,” Kyed wrote. 

• Following the game, Bill Belichick was asked about the decision. 

Bill Belichick addresses Trent Brown situation after loss to Bills

The mystery continues.

• And the Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi had another report. 
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  "Per sources, Brown's lateness – which he denied earlier this season – is a constant issue. The veteran, who's on his third team (and 2nd stop in New England) despite having top-10 tackle talent, hasn't taken to coaching and is looked upon by those in the room as an independent contractor concerned only with himself and his dollars," Giardi wrote. "Internally, I'm told, there was belief Brown could have returned before and did not. The belief was that he was protecting himself and his future earnings in a season without the promise of a postseason." 

• On the first day of in-person media availability leading to their final regular season game, Belichick simply stated that he expected Brown to be at practice and didn't think he was on the injury report. 

• During practice, Brown was one of two players missing. 

• He was added to the injury report with an illness.