New England Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez had missed seven straight practices and both preseason games coming into Monday. He was sidelined after suffering an ankle injury during a 1-on-1 drill, but given his ongoing contract extension negotiations, some speculated the absence may have stemmed from more than just the injury. But Patriots fans received some good news Monday, as Gonzalez returned to the practice field despite still not having a new deal in place.
New England closes out the preseason Thursday against the Browns in Cleveland. Whether Gonzalez suits up for that game remains to be seen, but the odds of him being a full go for Week 1 have improved significantly now that he's back on the field. More news: Bengals Cut Ties With Veteran Offensive Lineman After 3 Seasons More news: Steelers HC Mike McCarthy Breaks Silence on Joey Porter Jr’s Contract Drama Gonzalez was the Patriots' first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in 2023 and was widely considered one of the best cornerbacks in that draft class, alongside the Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon, who went fifth overall.
Both players were set to be under contract through 2027, but neither wanted to wait that long to be paid like top corners — and Witherspoon recently got his. Seattle agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension with Witherspoon on Aug. 15. Gonzalez, meanwhile, has been pushing for a new contract for weeks and is still waiting.
But the fact that he's voluntarily returned to practice — rather than continuing to sit out with an injury designation — is a good sign of where things may stand. It's starting to feel like Gonzalez will be ready for the regular season, likely with a new contract in place, potentially one that surpasses Witherspoon's record-breaking deal. Across three seasons in New England, he's posted 145 combined tackles, 24 pass breakups, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2024 and Pro Bowl honors in 2025.
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