Will Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez play Week 1? Mike Vrabel offers new replace
FOXBORO — Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is not going to follow Monday, and his standing for this weekend’s season opener appears to be more and more unsure.
Gonzalez suffered a left hamstring damage throughout a coaching camp follow on July 28, and hasn’t practiced since.
Preliminary reporting urged the Patriots had been concentrating on a Week 1 return for Gonzalez, although after lacking Monday’s session he has simply three practices left this week to arrange for the Raiders. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel addresses Gonzalez’s standing earlier than Monday’s follow.
“Nicely, it simply hasn’t gone — once more, (Gonzalez)’s working exhausting,” Vrabel stated. “Whether or not it’s, say, one damage goes to be three to 4 weeks, one’s going to be one to 2, everyone heals in a different way.”
Vrabel didn’t say whether or not the workforce anticipated Gonzalez to be obtainable for Sunday’s opener. The Patriots will launch their first damage report Wednesday night.
“(He’s) working exhausting and making an attempt to enhance, and he needs to be on the market,” Vrabel stated. “I feel it’s good for us, and for Christian and the workforce, making an attempt to not be annoyed. Clearly these issues occur, and it’s how we reply to them, it’s how exhausting we work to get again, the communication, all of the issues that he’s doing. So (he’s) continued to work exhausting to get again, and we’re making an attempt to be sure that we’re doing every part we are able to to assist him.”
Vrabel didn’t say if Gonzalez has been annoyed throughout his restoration or if he endured a setback. The 23-year-old nook made the All-Professional second workforce final 12 months in his second season. He’s broadly anticipated to be the Patriots’ finest participant once more this season.
In his place, the Patriots have rotated a number of corners exterior, together with younger backup Alex Austin, veteran nickelback/returner Marcus Jones and DJ James, a second-year participant who spent final season on the Patriots’ follow squad. Vrabel expressed confidence of their means to fill in for Gonzalez reverse free-agent addition Carlton Davis, ought to the teaching workers want considered one of them come Sunday.
“I feel DJ was considered one of our extra improved gamers over the course of rookie minicamp, which he participated in as a veteran; the power to take part in (practices) till now. (Austin) as carried out a pleasant job of going on the market and enjoying nook, of enjoying nickel. Marcus offers numerous management in there. It’s been good to have (Davis) string some days collectively, so (it) offers alternative for different guys.
“(We) would like to have Gonzo again. Belief me — we might. However I feel the opposite guys have stepped up and tried to reap the benefits of the chance.”
