FOXBORO — Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is questionable to play in Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Saints.
The 2024 second-team All-Professional was listed as restricted in follow Thursday and Friday with a hamstring damage this week. Head coach Mike Vrabel stated Friday that it may come right down to a game-time resolution.
“We’ll proceed to watch him and see the place that goes, and attempt to decide at 10:30 Central Time, 90 minutes earlier than the sport,” Vrabel stated. “In order that’s the place we’re at, and we’ll need to have a plan if he doesn’t go, and we’ll have a plan if he does go, identical to everyone else.”
Vrabel continued: “We’re going to watch and see how he feels, and if he’s feels good to go and assured – which I hope that he’s – then then he’s going to play within the recreation.”
Cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton indicated Thursday that Gonzalez’s follow workload was pre-planned, however Vrabel’s phrases paint a special image if it’s doable that the highest cornerback is at risk of lacking Sunday’s recreation.
Defensive finish Keion White (elbow), outdoors linebacker Anfernee Jennings (ankle) and security Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring) have been dominated out on Friday afternoon. Linebacker Marte Mapu (hamstring/neck) and cornerback Charles Woods (knee) are questionable.
Exterior linebacker Ok’Lavon Chaisson will make his return to motion from a knee damage. Defensive sort out Milton Williams (ankle) additionally was faraway from the damage report.
If Gonzalez can’t go, that will enhance the workload of Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones. If Woods can also’t play, then cornerback Alex Austin may additionally see a task on protection.
The Patriots will doubtless elevate an outdoor linebacker from the follow squad. Vrabel had reward for each Truman Jones and Bradyn Swinson on Friday.
On Jones: “I’m not speculated to have favorites, however I might say that Truman’s near the checklist if I had one. He’s an especially laborious employee. I might say that each time we’ve got a present participant of the week on the [defense] or particular groups, I might say that he’s most likely been a kind of two, if not each, all year long. He’s carried out a pleasant job. He prepares as a starter each week. I simply assume he’s persevering with to develop, and we might be comfy if we needed to play him.”
On Swinson: “Enhancing. I do know Smitty [Mike Smith] talked about him, and I believe he’s actually tried to take the final, name it 5 – 6 weeks, and actually simply perceive what the calls for are for this stage and this league is about caring for your physique, coaching and persevering with to develop as a younger participant, and simply all the opposite little particulars. After which training laborious, working and creating as a fourth down participant as effectively, attempting to follow that.”
