After returning to practice last week for the first time in more than seven weeks, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez appears on track to make his season debut Sunday.
Speaking at his locker on Wednesday,
Gonzalez said he hoped to return last week against the Steelers but was overruled by head coach Mike Vrabel, who believed the corner “needed a little bit more time.”
“I was upset,” Gonzalez admitted. “But, I mean, sometimes you have to look at yourself and make sure you’re all the way ready. Hamstrings are a tough, tough injury. It’s a tough spot. So that’s what it is.”
Gonzalez, who was named a second-team All-Pro last season, is eligible to sign a lucrative contract extension this upcoming offseason. With that looming, some have speculated whether his extensive absence was tied to protecting his future payday. Gonzalez, however, strongly pushed back on that idea.
“I never don’t want to play. I mean, that narrative that’s out there, I don’t know where people get it from,” Gonzalez said. “But I mean, all I want to do is play football. So, we talked about it, and we came to a decision, and that’s what it is.”
“It’s from a lot of people that have never set foot on a football field,” he added. “So it didn’t disappoint me too much.”
In Gonzalez’s first practice action last week since suffering the hamstring injury on July 28th, the corner was limited before being listed as questionable on the final injury report. He was then downgraded to out on Saturday.
Vrabel indicated the team will ramp up Gonzalez’s practice participation this week to get hopefully get him ready to make his season debut against Carolina.
“That’s the plan,“ Vrabel said. ”Excited about his efforts an willingness to get back, and work hard, and practice last week. And then I made a decision at the end of the week that he just needed a little bit more time. That’s what happens when you start returning to play. You practice, you work hard, you see how you respond, and then you make a decision if that player’s ready for a football game. We felt like he probably needed a little bit more time. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to go.”
The 23-year-old himself, meanwhile, claimed that his hamstring would be feeling good and that he isn’t concerned about his conditioning level.
“You don’t really know, but I’ve always been in relatively good shape when it comes to my heart and stamina and things like that,” he said. “So I’m not too worried about that.”
Asked if he’ll be on the field Sunday, Gonzalez smiled and simply said: “I’m excited.”
