Cornerback Christian Gonzalez is officially sidelined from Wednesday’s work as the New England Patriots gear up for their AFC East opener against the unbeaten Buffalo Bills. This is a tough blow, especially with two other starters, defensive tackle Christian Barmore and offensive tackle Morgan Moses, also joining the “did not participate” list. With a crucial divisional game looming, the Patriots are facing an uphill battle right from the start.
The Big Three Are Out, And It’s a Problem
Gonzalez, the extended All-Pro, got his shoulder checked out on the sideline last Sunday after making a strong tackle in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While he finished that game, playing 52 of 59 defensive snaps in the 35-6 loss, he was a no-show for the Bills prep. That’s a massive absence for their secondary heading into such a critical game.
Up front, the situation isn’t much better. Morgan Moses, the 35-year-old captain of the offensive line, was also absent. His foot injury, which limited him last week, resurfaced early in the blowout against the Jaguars, pulling him in the third quarter with 41 offensive snaps still on the table. And defensive tackle Christian Barmore is out too, with a shoulder issue that had him questionable heading into halftime against Jacksonville, though he did re-enter that game. Losing three key starters like this, especially against a red-hot Bills team, is a huge hit to both sides of the ball.
Some Guys Are Back, But Still Limited
It’s not all bad news, though. Tight end Eli Raridon, outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, and safety Craig Woodson were all at practice, albeit with limited participation, after being inactive for the Jaguars game. Raridon, the rookie tight end, and Woodson, the sophomore safety, had both been questionable right up until 90 minutes before kickoff against Jacksonville.
Jones, a March signing who even recorded a sack in his 2026 debut, is also back on the field. He suffered a shoulder injury trying to recover a fumble in the home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed three practices last week before being ruled out. Getting them back in some capacity is better than nothing, but their limited status means they are not 100%. The best news for Patriots fans, however, has to be seeing starting quarterback Drake Maye as a full participant in practice despite his right shoulder issue. That’s a huge sigh of relief for the offense.
The Patriots are set to face the unbeaten Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium. With a few key pieces sidelined and others still shaking off injuries, it is going to be a tough battle for the Patriots trying to slow down the Bills and start their AFC East campaign on the right foot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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