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.

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.