Patriots go two practices without Christian Gonzalez

Justin Hamilton fielded the questions afterward.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 45m1 min read

On the scene: Cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton draws a media crowd after the Patriots practiced without Christian Gonza Via @MikeReiss on X

What happened: Justin Hamilton drew a media crowd after practice as attention turned to Gonzalez's absence from the previous two sessions. Gonzalez has been a fixture in New England's secondary since arriving as the 17th pick in the 2023 draft.

Why it matters: Any interruption for Gonzalez matters for a Patriots team that entered Week 4 at 1-2 and is trying to steady its defense early in the 2026 season. The absence also comes less than a month after the Patriots made Christian Gonzalez the NFL's highest-paid cornerback, raising the stakes around his availability.

By the numbers: Gonzalez has missed 2 straight practices, and New England entered Week 4 at 1-2.

What to watch: The Patriots' next practice report should sharpen the picture on Gonzalez's availability. A return to the field would quickly ease concern around New England's secondary.

Sources

@MikeReiss 2026-10-02T15:11:53.455945+00:00

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