The New England Patriots have been patiently awaiting the return of All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The star secondary defender suffered a severe hamstring injury back in training camp, which has lingered through the start of the regular season.
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Gonzalez did make some headway in recovery through Week 3, but the Patriots chose to allow him more time to heal. Now, it appears that the star corner could finally make his regular season debut against the Carolina Panthers.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Gonzalez has made “good progress” in his recovery, and there is a strong chance that he will play on Sunday.
“Sources: #Patriots star CB Christian Gonzalez has made “good progress” in his hamstring recovery and is likely to make his season debut Sunday vs the #Panthers. I’m told Gonzalez was “close” in Week 3 and has responded well to the additional work this week, putting him in line to play,” Schultz wrote on X.
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JULY 28: Christian Gonzalez #0 of the New England Patriots runs during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28, 2025 in Foxborou… | Winslow Townson/Getty Images/Getty Images
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Gonzalez was an outstanding corner in 2024, securing two interceptions, 10 passes defended, and giving up a 55.7 completion percentage and 71.7 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks. He did give up two touchdowns, but his coverage was spectacular regardless.
For his 2024 coverage, Gonzalez was named an All-Pro.
Injuries can sometimes take a bit to recover from, and it is a shame that Gonzalez has yet to make the field in 2025. The good news is that he is heading into his third year and still has a presumably long career ahead of him.
The Patriots are 1-2 heading into this important clash with the Panthers, and getting Gonzalez back for the game would do wonders for the secondary. Carolina has Bryce Young, who can easily stretch the field with his passes.
Gonzalez can go a long way to helping shore up the secondary for the Patriots, which is currently giving up a fourth-worst 256.3 passing yards per game.
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