Carlton

Davis

The Patriots’ No. 2 perimeter cornerback makes his return from a multi-week neck injury for this divisional showdown. The Patriots declared CB Karon Prunty, S Elliott Davison, CB Channing Canada, QB Behren Morton, RB TreVeyon Henderson and WR A.J. Brown (knee/ankle) inactive for Week 8 against the Dolphins. Prunty and Canada have also missed multiple games, dealing with hamstring injuries. They are the Patriots’ primary backups on the perimeter. Both players practiced in full this week, so their absence is a little surprising.

It’s a bit of a surprise questionable because Davis got in three full practice sessions this week. Still, he is coming off a long-term neck injury that has sidelined him most of the year so we understand the Patriots being cautious here. We’d consider Davis on the optimistic side of questionable.

Davis and both of the Patriots’ top perimeter backups, CB Channing Canada (hamstring) and CB Karon Prunty (hamstring) are practicing in full this week. This is very good news. The trio has been sidelined for some time, weakening the Patriots’ secondary.

The Patriots will also be without their top-two backup CBs, Karon Prunty (hamstring) and Channing Canada (hamstring). The Patriots listed S Kevin Byard (chest), S Craig Woodson (shoulder) and LB Christian Elliss (chest) as questionable. This is good news for the Bears’ passing attack.

It was an upgrade from an estimated Monday DNP. Davis has missed Week 2, Week 3, Week 5 and Week 6 to the neck listing so far. Perhaps he’ll try to give it a go on Thursday night, but we’d be surprised if he did better than a questionable tag on Wednesday.

Gonzalez has not played since Week 3, but he returns in time to cover Garrett Wilson in a divisional showdown. Gonzalez primarily lines up on the perimeter, but he has taken 15 combined snaps in the slot and in the box. He could take a few reps on the inside this week, but perimeter CB2 Carlton Davis (neck) is out, so Gonzalez could be asked to simply stay out wide.

He has not practiced or played since Week 3. Nothing we’ve seen has suggested he’ll be a Saturday IR candidate, but it also wouldn’t necessarily be surprising if that happened. The Pats also ruled out fellow starting CB Carlton Davis (neck) for Week 5, leaving non-existent Raiders receivers with matchup upgrades. (Cody White is about to touch the end zone paint again.)

Gonzalez and fellow starting perimeter CB Carlton Davis (neck) have missed each of the Patriots’ first two practices this week, putting them on the wrong side of questionable for Week 5 against the Raiders. Las Vegas lines up Brock Bowers as a wide receiver most of the time. Missing both starting coverage defenders would make life tough on the defense.

Gonzalez has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since last week, missing the Patriots’ Week 4 win over the Bills. Also not practicing were Carlton Davis (neck) and Karon Prunty (hamstring). We’ll see if any of these corners can practice enough to play for Week 5, but Raiders WR Tre Tucker is headed for a good matchup against a banged up Patriots secondary this week.

Davis did not practice all week due to a neck injury and was officially ruled out on Saturday. The Patriots will look for reinforcements in the secondary for Week 2 against the Steelers. Also inactive for the Patriots are OT Dametrious Crownover, OT Walter Rouse, TE Tanner Arkin, DT Leonard Taylor, and QB Behren Morton.