What happened: Christian Gonzalez was not present at Thursday's practice for the second straight day as he deals with a shoulder issue. Morgan Moses (foot), Christian Barmore (shoulder) and Reggie Gilliam (knee) also were not spotted.
Why it matters: The absences land ahead of Week 4, with the Patriots set to host Buffalo on Sunday. Missing a corner along with offensive-line and front-seven pieces would alter practice rotations this week and sharpen focus on Friday's availability report.
By the numbers: Gonzalez recorded 69 tackles in 14 games in 2025. Barmore had 29 tackles and two sacks in 17 games last season, while Gilliam appeared in 17 games and logged 13 tackles in 2025.
What to watch: Friday's participation report is the next checkpoint before Sunday's game. Gonzalez's status will be the clearest signal on whether this remains a practice issue or carries into the weekend.