Shoulder injuries will keep the New England Patriots shorthanded in Orchard Park.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore have been ruled out for the AFC East opener versus the unbeaten Buffalo Bills, as Mike Vrabel announced during his Friday press conference. Both extended starters remained non-participants for three straight practices.
“Neither Christian will be up this week. Both of those guys, Barmore and Gonzalez, will be out. That’ll be the only ones that have an out designation,”
the head coach said. “There’ll be some others listed as questionable, I’m sure, later.”
Stay tuned for the rest of the final injury report ahead of Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Highmark Stadium.
OUT
Patriots
- DT Christian Barmore (shoulder)
- CB Christian Gonzalez (shoulder)
Bills
- TBA
Early in last Sunday’s 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Gonzalez had his shoulder examined by the training staff after a making a hard tackle on third down. No injury designation was announced after the defense got off the field. From there, the 2023 draft choice, 2024 All-Pro and 2025 Pro Bowler stayed in to see 52 out of 59 snaps for a cornerback depth chart that also includes Carlton Davis III, Charles Woods, Marcus Jones and rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada on the 53-man roster. No. 0 closed out September with eight tackles and five passes defensed. But back-to-back-back absences followed heading into the divisional matchup.
From Wednesday through Friday, the same attendance held for Barmore, who had been ruled questionable to return before halftime last weekend at EverBank Stadium and did so despite a shoulder issue of his own. The 2026 campaign has brought one sack, one forced fumble, one start and one quarterback hit in every game for the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Alabama product. It won’t bring an October encounter with former NFL MVP Josh Allen. That puts the spotlight on a defensive tackle group featuring Milton Williams, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III and ex-Bill DaQuan Jones on the active roster.
QUESTIONABLE
Patriots
- TBA
Bills
- TBA
Fullback Reggie Gilliam and offensive tackle Morgan Moses were spotted back at Friday’s practice in Foxborough. Due to knee and foot issues, respectively, the two veterans had been among four sidelined on the previous injury report.
Additional calls that loom for the 1-2 Patriots include tight end Eli Raridon, linebackers Dre’Mont Jones and safety Craig Woodson, who all landed among the team’s inactives 90 minutes before kickoff last weekend after carrying game designations. But interior backup Ben Brown is in line to start at right guard at Highmark Stadium after August signing Greg Van Roten joined incumbent Mike Onwenu on injured reserve.
