The New England Patriots were back on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium on Monday, and one of their most important players took part in the action.
Christian Gonzalez, who had missed seven practices and both preseason games so far, made his return after a two-week injury absence.
Gonzalez, 24, was last spotted at practice on August 10. Covering wide receiver Romeo Doubs 1-on-1 in an end-of-game situation, he came down hard. While he did not require immediate medical attention, he sat out
the next day’s joint session with the Indianapolis Colts.
While speculation arose whether or not his ongoing contract negotiations played a part in his absence, head coach Mike Vrabel repeatedly iterated that Gonzalez was not doing on-field work for physical reasons. Speaking to the media on Monday, however, Vrabel mentioned that a return was on the horizon.
“I think we’re hopeful that he’ll be able to do some stuff,” he said about the Pro Bowl cornerback before practice. “He was working before the game and trying to work through the return-to-play, so we’ll see how it feels this morning.”
Vrabel also was asked about Gonzalez’s readiness for the upcoming regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, but offered little insight.
“I’m going to focus on today. I’m not ready to talk about Week 1,” he said. “We have to do everything we can to get guys ready. Each guy has to be ready individually, and then I have to find a way to make sure that the football team is ready, and that we’re conditioned and ready to go.”
The Patriots’ first-round draft pick in 2023, Gonzalez has been one of the best cornerbacks in football over the last two seasons. This prompted the organization to exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie deal earlier this offseason, even though both sides continue working toward a multi-year extension that will likely best Devon Witherspoon’s new deal with the Seahawks to make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
