FOXBORO — Star Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez limped off the follow area Monday after struggling an obvious leg damage.
Gonzalez sustained the damage whereas masking broad receiver Stefon Diggs early in 11-on-11 drills. After Diggs caught the move from quarterback Drake Maye, Gonzalez grabbed the again of his left leg, then walked slowly towards the medical shed, flanked by staff trainers.
The character and severity of Gonzalez’s damage weren’t instantly clear, however he didn’t return to the follow, which was the Patriots’ first in full pads.
Thought to be one of many NFL’s finest younger corners, Gonzalez earned second-team All-Professional honors final season after tallying 59 tackles, 11 passes defended and two interceptions in 16 video games for New England. The 2023 first-round draft choose just lately made his first look on the player-voted “NFL High 100” listing, checking in at No. 84.
Gonzalez’s exit, coupled with Carlton Davis’ absence from follow, left the Patriots with out each of their projected beginning cornerbacks. Davis, signed this offseason to be Gonzalez’s working mate, is coping with an undisclosed damage that’s restricted him since camp started.
With Gonzalez and Davis unavailable, Alex Austin and Marcus Jones had been the following males up at exterior cornerback on Monday, with the 5-foot-8 Jones bumping out from his standard slot position. Behind them had been a group of younger corners vying for roster spots, together with D.J. James, Miles Battle, Isaiah Bolden, Kobee Minor and Brandon Crossley. Marcellas Dial and Jordan Polk are behind Jones on the nickel depth chart.
James, a second-year professional who spent most of final season on the Patriots’ follow squad, has been a shock standout over the primary 5 coaching camp practices. On Monday, he broke up a move supposed for rookie wideout Kyle Williams.
9 totally different cornerbacks have began video games for the Patriots during the last two seasons, together with Gonzalez, Jones, Austin and Dial. New England is hoping the Gonzalez-Davis duo can present a much-needed jolt of playmaking capacity to a protection that ranked tied for twenty sixth in interceptions and twenty eighth in interception charge in 2024.
“I really feel like stress is a privilege,” Gonzalez stated final week. “When you have that stress on you, it’s a very good factor, so I take pleasure in it. You sort of should take pleasure in it taking part in nook as a result of it’s at all times going to be on the DBs. So I take pleasure in it.”
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