FOXBORO — Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez returned to apply final week for the primary time in additional than seven weeks.
This Sunday, he’s anticipated to play his first sport in virtually 9 months.
Gonzalez indicated Wednesday he’ll make his season debut within the Patriots’ upcoming residence sport in opposition to the Panthers, echoing feedback head coach Mike Vrabel made earlier within the day. Vrabel mentioned he determined to sideline his star cornerback for final Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh, earlier than which the workforce had listed Gonzalez as questionable on its final harm report. Gonzalez was restricted in all three practices final week, his first on-field motion since he harm his hamstring throughout a coaching camp apply on July 28.
“I used to be upset,” Gonzalez mentioned of Vrabel’s choice. “However, I imply typically you gotta take a look at your self and be sure you’re all the way in which prepared. You realize, hamstrings are a tricky, powerful harm. It’s a tricky spot. In order that’s what it’s.”
Requested if he instructed Vrabel he wished to play in opposition to the Steelers, Gonzalez claimed he did. In the identical reply, the 23-year-old referenced talk-show hypothesis that his extended absence was by some means associated to the hefty contract extension he’s anticipated to signal this offseason.
“I by no means don’t wish to play. I imply, that narrative that’s on the market, I don’t know the place individuals get it from,” Gonzalez mentioned. “However I imply, all I wish to do is play soccer. So, we talked about it, and we got here to a choice, and that’s what it’s.”
Gonzalez denied the hypothesis bothered him.
“It’s from lots of people which have by no means set foot on a soccer area,” he mentioned. “So it didn’t disappoint me an excessive amount of.”
Gonzalez confirmed his hamstring feels good, however couldn’t predict whether or not he can be in sport form come Sunday.
“I imply, you don’t actually know. However I’ve all the time been in comparatively good condition in the case of my coronary heart and stamina and issues like that,” he mentioned. “So I’m not too anxious about that.”
In his absence, the Patriots have allowed 22.7 factors per sport, good for 18th within the league. Their go protection has suffered mightily, rating twenty ninth by the opponent-and-situation-adjusted metric DVOA, twenty eighth by EPA (Anticipated Factors Added) and bottom-5 in protection, in line with Professional Soccer Focus.
Final yr, Gonzalez landed on All-Professional second workforce after recording two interceptions, 11 go breakups and 59 tackles over 16 video games. As soon as he returns, he ought to kind one of many league’s higher cornerback duos with veteran Carlton Davis.
“It’s what I do. I really like soccer,” Gonzalez mentioned. “So it’s been exhausting being out. It’s been exhausting simply watching, however (I’m) excited to get again at it.”
