New England Patriots
“It’s kind of a warm-up to the early portion of practice.”
FOXBOROUGH — After a pair of healthy weeks, Christian Gonzalez popped back up on the Patriots’ injury report on Thursday.
He was listed as a limited participant at practice due to a hamstring injury.
Gonzalez missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury before returning against the Panthers. He was instrumental during the closing minutes of the Patriots’ win against Buffalo.
Cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton said the team has an individual plan for Gonzalez as he manages the injury.
“He’s on a plan with [Mike Vrabel], and [director of sports performance] Frank [Piraino] and [athletic trainer] Jim [Whalen in the training room” Hamilton said. “It’s kind of a warm-up to the early portion of practice.
“Just to do more because some of the stuff is special teams or different things where it’s like a jog through or a walk through and its for him to get to the pace that he can go at to be able to able to get out there when we are out there in the speed periods of practice.”
Gonzalez was one of five limited participants on Thursday. K’Lavon Chaisson [knee], Joshua Farmer [ankle], Marte Mapu [neck/hamstring], and Milton Williams [ankle] were also in that group.
The Patriots had four players who did not participate. Antonio Gibson remains out with a torn ACL. Jaylinn Hawkins [hamstring], Anfernee Jennings [ankle], and Keion White [elbow] were also out.
Gonzalez was a part of two key stops in the closing minutes of Sunday’s game. His impact did not go unnoticed.
“On the one that was the play extended forever, it was like ‘man, thank goodness he’s back there’,” Hamilton said. “Because the guy came down with the ball. I mean, he ran out of real estate, but he came down with the ball.”
“To be able to stay connected, to be able to not foul in that situation – and the other guys too out there in coverage because Josh Allen, it’s like a movie to be out there for a play — it’s a unique ability and it’s unique poise. You can’t panic in those situations, or any situation, but particularly those.
“On the play that he made, that was, to me, vintage Josh Allen and even though Gonzo is not super old or has been in it for a long time, that was vintage Gonzo. Just showing up when his team needed him … huge play in a huge moment.”
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