FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Chad Wheeler will miss three of the four preseason games this summer, as his cranky back makes him unavailable for Thursday night’s finale against the Patriots. What comes next for the erstwhile starting offensive tackle is unknown and could be precarious.

The Giants this offseason recruited over Wheeler, signing veteran Mike Remmers to start at right tackle. Wheeler, undrafted in 2017 out of USC, started 17 games at right tackle the past two seasons, including the last 14 games in 2018 after the ill-fated attempt to salvage Ereck Flowers’ career on the right size fizzled badly.

The plan this season was for Wheeler, just 25, to serve as the backup swing tackle — he started 45 games at left tackle in college. Depth along the offensive line has long been a bugaboo for this franchise and Wheeler provided a dose of it.

Now? The first roster cuts from 90 to 53 arrive Saturday, and Wheeler is in a tough spot. This is the first time he has ever dealt with a back injury. It locked up one day in practice. He tried to come back for the second preseason game, against the Bears, and he played 39 snaps before it flared up again.

“I’m just taking it day by day right now,’’ Wheeler told The Post. “I think I’ll be all right.’’

It does not sound as if Wheeler would be ready to go in the Sept. 8 regular-season opener, and he is hoping he does not need to go on short-term injured reserve.

“It might be close, still a possibility I think,’’ he said.

The less desirable option is the Giants cut him with an injury settlement.

“He’s been plagued by that little back injury,’’ coach Pat Shurmur said. “So we’ll just see. He hasn’t been able to get the quality practice reps over an extended period of time. But he’s out there practicing. We’ll just see where he’s at.’’

It is not as if Wheeler is an unknown player. Shurmur got a chance to watch him all last season.

“I think I showed them a lot,’’ Wheeler said. “Just that I can compete against anybody.’’

Though he said, “I think everybody should want to be a starter,’’ Wheeler handled the arrival of Remmers less as a demotion and more as a reminder he needs to improve. He said the newcomers on the line — Remmers and guard Kevin Zeitler form the new starting right side — make it easier to do his job.

“It’s really comforting, especially being around these vets,’’ Wheeler said. “Just taking notes every day of how they approach things, their habits.’’