Christian

Gonzalez

Gonzalez left Week 9’s game against the Falcons for a concussion check. A full practice means he will be good to go for Week 10 against the Bucs. Gonzalez will likely be tasked with covering Emeka Egbuka this week.

Gonzalez hit his head on the field after Drake London beat him to a 40-yard jump ball in the second half of the Pats’ Week 9 game against the Falcons. He is likely being evaluated for a concussion and did not return to the game.

Defensive tackle Milton Williams is also active. Inactive for the Patriots are QB Tommy DeVito, OLB Anfernee Jennings, DE Keion White, S Jaylinn Hawkins, OL Caedan Wallace, and DT Eric Gregory.

Gonzalez appeared on Thursday’s injury report as a limited participant after reportedly being injury-free on Wednesday. The Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback sat out Weeks 1-3 due to a hamstring strain suffered during the summer. After a bumpy Week 3 showing, he tightened things up in Week 4, allowing just one reception on four targets thrown into his coverage. He should be considered truly questionable to play this week, and would perhaps benefit from another week of rest.

That’s bad. Gonzalez missed Weeks 1-3 due to a hamstring injury. He was a little rusty in his Week 4 debut, but allowed just one reception on four targets in Week 5, notching one forced incompletion and two tackles. Hopefully, this is just a pre-planned rest day. Unfortunately, it could be a re-injury, though. The Patriots are tasked with containing the Saints’ capable wide receivers in Week 6.

Finally making his 2025 debut, Gonzalez’s return will be a massive boost for a Patriots defense that was mostly treading water in Weeks 1-3. Inactive for New England are QB Tommy DeVito, WR Efton Chism, LG Jared Wilson, OL Caedan Wallace, DT Eric Gregory and EDGE Elijah Ponder.

Jordan Schultz reported that Gonzalez is expected to make his season debut this week. Gonzalez has missed the first three weeks with a hamstring injury that sidelined him all preseason. We’d put him on the optimistic side of questionable for this battle against Tet McMil— uh, Xavier Leg — uh, Hunter Renfrow and the Panthers.

Schultz says that Gonzalez was “close” last week and has responded well to additional work this week. Gonzalez could find himself stapled to Tetairoa McMillan’s hip in Week 4. The Pats’ star cornerback was limited in each of the first two practices this week and was a difference-making corner in 2024.

Gonzalez was limited for all three practices last week. The team initially listed him as questionable to play but then downgraded him to out over the weekend. He may need to get in a full practice before being cleared to action. Thursday and Friday’s injury reports will provide more info on the young corner.

The young cornerback has yet to play in 2025 after suffering a hamstring injury in camp. He managed to practice all week as a limited participant but ultimately failed to do enough to play against the Steelers. Expect him to be active in Week 4 when the Patriots host the Panthers.