Christian Gonzalez wanted to be his ‘5-year-old self’ in Pats return

The previous few months haven’t been straightforward for Christian Gonzalez. 

Contemporary off of incomes an All-Professional nod in his second full season with the Patriots, Gonzalez was poised to anchor a New England protection already anticipated to take an enormous step ahead after a busy offseason.

As a substitute, the 23-year-old defensive again spent the final two months on the sideline as his teammates trudged forward with out him. 

Gonzalez’s prep work going into the 2025 season was halted throughout coaching camp on account of a hamstring pressure. What was initially anticipated to be a gentle harm that may rule him out of preseason motion rolled into the autumn. 

It was hardly the beginning that each Gonzalez and the Patriots envisioned going into this yr, with New England’s secondary hampered with out their finest participant on the sphere for the primary three video games of the season.

However on Sunday, Gonzalez was lastly afforded a clear slate — and an opportunity to place a irritating summer season within the rearview mirror.

For the primary time since Dec. 28, 2024, Gonzalez was given the inexperienced mild to return to the gridiron on Sunday afternoon in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.

Given his lack of reps throughout coaching camp, Gonzalez anticipated there to be some rust on Sunday. 

However, these preliminary butterflies gave solution to the thrill of getting again to the sport he loves. 

“Something could be a little difficult [when] not doing it for a very long time,” Gonzalez stated postgame. “However on the finish of the day I’ve achieved this since I used to be 5 years outdated. So my mindset going into the sport in the present day was to not actually consider how lengthy it’s been like that. Simply, it’s one other soccer recreation. Go on the market and be my 5-year-old self. Go on the market and have enjoyable. Have that pleasure of simply being again on the sphere.”

Gonzalez wasn’t precisely eased into Sunday’s eventual 42-13 win, logging 49 complete snaps on protection whereas getting tasked with defending Carolina’s 2025 first-round decide, broad receiver Tetairoa McMillan. 

According to Next Gen Stats, Gonzalez was matched up in opposition to the 6-foot-4 McMillan on 11 routes — giving up two catches off of three targets for 31 yards. 

“Tet’s an excellent younger participant,” Gonzalez stated of going up in opposition to McMillan. “I performed him in faculty, so I knew just a little bit about him. … We had a very good battle, and it was enjoyable. It was wanted to see recreation velocity once more. I hadn’t been on the market since a very long time, so it was enjoyable to get on the market with Tet and all these guys.” 

Because the Patriots brace themselves for a frightening primetime matchup in opposition to Josh Allen and the Payments subsequent Sunday, Gonzalez will probably be referred to as upon to remove Allen’s high targets. 

Gonzalez is aware of that he has a methods to go earlier than getting again to his highest commonplace of play. 

However, the nook was simply completely satisfied to be again out on the sphere along with his teammates on Sunday.  

“It was nice to get on the market,” Gonzalez stated. “All I do and need to do is play soccer, so it was enjoyable to lastly get on the market. Get on the market in a house recreation. The gang was rocking. Being on the market with the fellows, it was plenty of enjoyable.”

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author masking the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.