Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez was sidelined again Saturday, marking his third missed session this week! He skipped Tuesday’s practice, then completely missed Thursday’s preseason opener, and now he’s officially off the field. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters straight up that Gonzalez is “not ready to get back on the field.” What is going on out there? This is a pattern forming right before our eyes in preseason.
The “Physically Unavailable” Timeline
So let’s break this down. Gonzalez sat out Tuesday’s practice, which was a red flag. Vrabel then made it clear during the week that his guy was “physically unavailable.” Not just resting, but *unavailable*. He missed the preseason opener on Thursday, which is a big deal for a guy trying to get those reps. Now, here we are Saturday, and Vrabel doubled down, telling everyone Gonzalez is still out because of the *same injury*. You have to wonder how “undisclosed” it can be if it’s keeping him off the field for multiple key moments. This is about a key player not seeing the field when it matters for team prep.
The Whispers About That Contract
Here’s where it gets interesting, and maybe frustrating for Patriots fans. Gonzalez has been out there practicing *all summer long*, grinding away. But everyone knows he’s looking for a contract extension. You hear the whispers, right? You gotta wonder if this sudden absence is somehow tied to that contract impasse. It’s not a crazy thought. While Vrabel is sticking to his guns and only citing the “undisclosed injury” as the reason for Gonzalez’s change in status, it’s hard to ignore the timing. You see a guy practicing hard for months, then suddenly he’s “physically unavailable” right when contract talks could be hitting a snag? Some folks are definitely connecting those dots, even if the coach isn’t. It leaves you scratching your head, hoping there’s nothing more to it than just a nagging injury.
It’s not all about Gonzalez, though. The Patriots also got some tough news for reserve offensive lineman Ben Brown. He suffered an injury in Thursday’s preseason game, and now he’s going to miss the *rest of the preseason*. Talk about a gut punch for a player trying to make his mark. So, for Gonzalez, we’re all just watching and waiting to see if he can get back on the field soon, hopefully clearing up this whole “undisclosed” situation. As for Brown, a tough break and a long road ahead, hoping for a speedy recovery before the games really count.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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