The New England Patriots will be down an All-Pro against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Christian Gonzalez has officially been ruled out for the 2025 season opener, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed during his Friday press conference. After sustaining a hamstring injury during the first padded practice of training camp in July, the starting cornerback remained the lone non-participant through the first week of September injury reports.
Here’s the early game statuses for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette
Stadium.
OUT
Patriots
- CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring)
Raiders
- TBD
Gonzalez ranked atop the Patriots in defensive snaps last season and missed only one start. His absence leaves the active cornerback group in the hands of veteran Carlton Davis III, captain Marcus Jones as well as Alex Austin, D.J. James and August waiver claim Charles Woods, who had recently been a partial participant. The depth chart’s elevation candidates from the practice squad include Corey Ballentine, Miles Battle and No. 257 overall pick Kobee Minor.
QUESTIONABLE
Patriots
- OT Will Campbell (ankle)
Raiders
- TBD
Campbell had been added to the Patriots’ injury report as a limited participant on Thursday due to an ankle issue. Yet following Friday’s in-stadium practice in Foxborough, the left tackle out of LSU was announced as questionable to play in the opener. Pick No. 4 is in line to make his first career start next to another rookie draft choice from the SEC, left guard Jared Wilson.
