Brown ready to answer the bell

Troy Brown, who has played in 191 games for the Patriots, has been practicing with the team but the receiver has not reached his goal of playing in a game this season. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)

FOXBOROUGH - Ever since his Nov. 27 return from the physically unable to play list, veteran wide receiver Troy Brown, 36, has been itching to get back into the flow of things, but was inactive for the Patriots' last two games.

"I'm out there practicing with the guys and it's good to be back around the guys; it's been a few weeks now since I've been out there," said Brown, who has played 191 games with the Patriots but has been out since injuring his knee in the AFC Championship game last January. "I enjoy being out there and being able to compete in practice."

Asked if he is frustrated not being able to participate in the Patriots' 13-0 start, Brown said, "Any competitor wants to be out there in the game. When the team is doing well, that knocks the frustration level down quite a bit. The guys are winning, so you can't help but be happy.

"It's a good atmosphere around here right now. Everything is fine."

Especially now that Brown is back in the fold.

"Obviously, any ballplayer wants to be playing in the games but that's not the case right now," said Brown, who has watched Tom Brady and his new corps of receivers, led by Randy Moss and Wes Welker, shred the opposition on their way toward a record-setting season. "I have to keep doing what I have to do, worry about what I can control, and let the rest of it fall into place."

Asked what he thought of Welker, Brown said, "He's a darn good player. He's making plays and making big plays, too. He's been a good addition for us."

Some have even compared Welker with Brown.

"I never really get into comparisons," Brown said. "He has his own style of playing. I just think he's a phenomenal player. We thought the same thing about him when he was down at Miami. He's been a hard guy to cover. He's doing a heck of a job."

With three regular-season games remaining before the start of the playoffs, Brown was asked if he needed to play in the regular season to make a contribution in the postseason. "We'll see what happens," he said. "I'm doing everything I can to get myself ready to play."

Nose for the ball?

Le Kevin Smith has been the invisible man on the defensive line, but his status is likely to change after Mike Wright was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a foot injury.

"He's a versatile player for us and has held some different spots for us," defensive coordinator Dean Pees said of Wright. "He was getting better all the time so, obviously, we're going to miss him."

Down to five defensive linemen on the active roster, coach Bill Belichick and Pees hinted that Smith, who has played primarily on special teams this season, could become part of the defensive line rotation tomorrow against the Jets.

"He's improved a lot over the last year and a half, two years now," Belichick said. "He's played outside, he's played inside, he's a smart kid [and] he runs well. If he gets an opportunity, I'm sure that he'll be ready to try to take advantage of it."

Yesterday, the second-year lineman out of Nebraska said he's ready to contribute. "It's a sad situation to come with the opportunity, but that's what we've been practicing for," said Smith, 25. "Just something to step up into, just more playing time."

Smith, per order of Belichick, has been focusing on backing up Vince Wilfork at nose tackle.

"He made [nose tackle] a point, even in training camp, so that's been my focus all season," said Smith. "I know that's where my role is on the team, and secondary is defensive end."

But Smith said the positions are interchangeable to him.

"Yeah, it doesn't matter the name," he said. "Once you're in there, we play our defense a certain way and it doesn't change for any one player."

Lots to open early

Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Gillette Stadium will open its lots an hour earlier than usual, at 8 a.m., for tomorrow's 1 p.m. kickoff. "We encourage everyone to be very careful because it could be a wintry mix or snowing on their way into the game," he said. "If it is snowing, it could impact the lane dedications on the inbound [ride]." Asked if the Patriots would call a game because of weather, James said, "It's not our call. It's the NFL's." James said the Patriots are responsible for making the playing conditions safe and clearing the lots. In 2003, when a snowstorm dumped nearly 2 feet on Gillette Stadium, the team managed to clear the parking lots . . . Reserve guard Billy Yates (foot) did not participate in practice for the second day in a row and is out for tomorrow's game. Linebacker Adalius Thomas did not practice because of a team decision, although the Patriots did not disclose if his designation was injury-related. Guard Stephen Neal (shoulder), safety James Sanders (knee), linebacker Mike Vrabel (thigh), and tight end Ben Watson (ankle) were listed as questionable, though all practiced in limited capacity.

Mike Reiss and Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff contributed to this report.