New England Patriots - NESN.com
Don’t expect to see Christian Gonzalez back at practice until next week — at the earliest.
The New England Patriots cornerback suffered a reported hamstring injury during Monday’s practice and was absent from the following two sessions. Ahead of Wednesday’s practice, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel offered a vague — and perhaps concerning — update on the third-year pro.
“No updates,” Vrabel said during a news conference. “I wouldn’t expect him here this week. And, just like everybody else, I know he’s working extremely hard to get back and focus on what he can do as opposed to what he can’t. But I wouldn’t expect to see him this week.”
Vrabel’s update arrived a day after NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Gonzalez isn’t expected to miss the season opener.
“Sources: Patriots All-Pro CB Christian Gonzalez suffered a hamstring injury during Monday’s practice that will sideline him for a bit, but I’m told it will not impact his Week 1 availability,” Schultz wrote Tuesday on X.
Gonzalez seemingly avoided any serious injury, which is good news. However, hamstring injuries can linger for weeks, especially if players return before fully healed.
As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots exercise extreme caution with Gonzalez, who’s one of the top cornerbacks in football and arguably the best player on their roster.
Gonzalez isn’t the only Patriots corner dealing with a problematic injury. Veteran Carlton Davis, one of New England’s top offseason acquisitions, missed five of the first six training camp practices, including Wednesday’s, due to an undisclosed ailment.
