Christian

Gonzalez

Gonzalez is active, but it sounds like he is not feeling great. ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes that Gonzalez “will attempt to play through” his illness. The Patriots declared DT Joshua Farmer, QB Behren Morton, G/C Ben Brown (knee), CB Karon Prunty (hamstring), CB Channing Canada (hamstring) and CB Carlton Davis III (neck) inactive for Week 7 against the Bears. Davis serves as the team’s No. 2 perimeter cornerback. Prunty and Canada are Gonzalez and Davis’ primary backups. The Bears’ passing game should play productively tonight.

Gonzalez has evidently come down with an illness. The Patriots will announce their inactive list in less than an hour. They are already without CB2 Carlton Davis (neck) and their top perimeter backup CBs Karon Prunty (hamstring) and Channing Canada (hamstring), plus S Craig Woodson (shoulder) is questionable to play.

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.

Gonzalez told ESPN’s Mike Reiss that his shoulder is feeling “good” after sitting out in Weeks 4-5 to let it heal. This is an important game for the Patriots (3-2), who currently sit second in the AFC East, one spot ahead of the Jets (2-3). Gonzalez has traveled around the formation, at times covering the slot this season. This week, he will likely be tasked with covering Garrett Wilson.

New England’s injury-ravaged secondary could have a tough time slowing down the highly efficient Vegas passing offense today. The absence of Gonzalez and Davis should be a boon for both Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers. Kirk Cousins, who has 11 touchdowns to four interceptions this season, is a solid streaming option against the Patriots.

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.

Gonzalez did not practice at any point this week after popping up on the injury report Wednesday; his status seems to be in doubt for Week 5 at this point as well. The Patriots also ruled out DT Christian Barmore. They’ll be without their best coverage player against the Bills, elevating the matchup for D.J. Moore.

Back-to-back missed practices throw Gonzalez’s Week 4 status in real jeopardy. There are few players who mean as much to their defense as Gonzalez does, and if he is out against the Bills it will be open season for D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir in what oddsmakers are predicting to be a shootout. Patriots DT Christian Barmore (shoulder) remained sidelined as well.