New England Patriots
Gonzalez will be questionable for Sunday’s Patriots game against the Saints after appearing on the injury report this week.
The injury status surrounding the Patriots’ top defensive player appears to be a bit of a mystery again.
Christian Gonzalez will be questionable for Sunday’s game against the Saints after appearing on the injury report again this week due to a hamstring injury. As Gonazlez missed the first three games of the regular season due to a hamstring ailment, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel wouldn’t say if the All-Pro cornerback suffered a setback with the injury.
“Christian will be questionable for the game. We’ll continue to monitor him and see where that goes,” Vrabel told reporters when asked if Gonzalez suffered a setback. “We’ll try to make a decision at 10:30 a.m. Central Time, 90 minutes before the game. That’s where we’re at and we’ll have to have a plan if he doesn’t go, and we’ll have a plan if he does go. Just like everybody else.”
Gonzalez was a full participant at Wednesday’s practice before being limited in the final two practices of the week. On top of missing the first three games of the regular season, Gonzalez missed the entirety of the preseason and nearly all of training camp when he suffered the hamstring injury during the team’s first padded practice in late July. He played nearly every single defensive snap in the Patriots’ wins over the Panthers and Bills.
As the Patriots quickly used Gonzalez upon his return, cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton said the team had a plan for him on how to deal with the injury. Hamilton mentioned that Vrabel, head trainer Jim Whalen, and director of sports performance Frank Piraino were the ones who put together the plan for Gonzalez.
However, Vrabel admitted on Friday that Gonzalez’s usage in practice was his call as he explained why the cornerback might have been considered limited in practice.
“It’s on my plate,” Vrabel said. “There’s different tempos on a Friday. We’ve got some speed periods. And some jog through periods. And so, by the rules, I would say that by the letter of the law, you have to list – if it’s every single thing and every single rep, then it’s full. So, maybe he took one less than he took last Friday. I don’t know. I’m not trying to be funny here.”
Gonzalez has been effective in his first two games. He’s only allowed three receptions on seven targets for 54 yards, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also logged nine combined tackles and a pass breakup.
“We’re going to monitor and see how he feels, and if he feels good to go and confident – which I hope that he is – then he’s going to play in the game,” Vrabel said of Gonzalez.
On top of Gonzalez’s injury, the Patriots’ secondary is also dealing with an injury at safety. Jaylinn Hawkins is out with a hamstring injury, which he played through in the Patriots’ win over the Bills last week.
Despite Hawkins’s injury, Vrabel said he felt “good” about his safety group and explained what role special teamer Brenden Schooler could have at the position after making his season debut on defense in Week 5.
“We’ll see where it goes this week as it relates to normal downs and distances,” Vrabel said. “But he’s long, he can run, he’s a good tackle, and he has a great play style.”
In addition to Hawkins, linebacker Anfernee Jennings, defensive end Keion White, and running back Antonio Gibson have been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Linebacker Marte Mapu and cornerback Charles Woods are the other two Patriots players listed as questionable.
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