The New England Patriots welcomed players back for their 2026 organized team activities earlier this week, but one of their most valuable ones is not present for the proceedings. Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez is a surprise no-show at OTAs.
Gonzalez was among several players who head coach Mike Vrabel announced as absentees ahead of the Patriots’ first open practice on Wednesday.
Besides the 23-year-old, Vrabel also mentioned fellow cornerback Carlton Davis, wide receivers Kayshon Boutte, Mack
Hollins and Kyle Dixon, and edges Harold Landry and Gabe Jacas.
Given his status as one of the best defenders in the NFL as well as the fact that he is looking for a new contract, Gonzalez stands out among the group. Earlier this offseason, the Patriots exercised the fifth-year option in his rookie deal to keep him under contract through 2027.
The former first-round draft pick did participate in voluntary workouts earlier this spring. His head coach, meanwhile, does not sense any issues with Gonzalez or any of the other players not present for Wednesday’s session.
“Those are personal choices for players,” Vrabel said. “I would say that I value the communication that I’ve had personally [with Gonzalez]. I know that our defensive coaches have had conversations with Christian.
“I wish that they were all here so that we can coach them. But the ones that are here, that’s where our focus will be and we’ll pour everything that we have into those players. But I know that his professionalism and being-ready-to-go. Whatever personal choice that some guys have during the spring, I know I’m confident that they’ll all be ready.”
Starting this week, the Patriots will hold nine total organized team activities. In mid-June, they will add a three-day minicamp that is mandatory to attend for Gonzalez and the rest of his teammates listed above.
“We would love to have everybody here but that’s not the reality in the NFL,” Vrabel said. “The guys that aren’t here we communicate [with], or the guys that aren’t at practice. Everybody’s got a different practice plan, we’ve talked about that. But the communication has been great, for whatever reason that guys aren’t at practice.”
