Patriots Make Final Decision on Christian Gonzalez for Week 1

Coming into the 2025 season, the Patriots are counting on a rebuilt defense to be the foundation of a team coming off back-to-back four-win seasons and employing its third head coach in three years. The problem for the new guy--Mike Vrabel--was that the bulk of the defense had to be bought in free agency, though there was one major exception: cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a shut-down corner who had shown star potential in his first two seasons.

But his third season is going to be slow getting off the ground. That's because Gonzalez suffered a hamstring injury at the opening of training camp that has taken a lot longer to heal than was expected, and Vrabel said that, after Gonzalez did not practice this week, he would be out for Sunday's Week 1 game vs. the Raiders.

Vrabel, in fact, had one word when he was asked for an update on Gonzalez: "Out."

Who Replaces Christian Gonzalez for the Patriots?

Gonzalez was the Patriots' first-round pick in 2023, the final first-round pick of the Bill Belichick era. And he was the rare good pick made by Belichick. Gonzalez had two interceptions in 16 starts last year and allowed a quarterback rating of just 71.7 on passes thrown his way.

Alex Austin, who is coming off a good camp in New England and started three games for the Patriots last season, is likely to get a lot of time replacing Gonzalez.

"I think Alex will – Double A will play. I think Marcus [Jones] will play. Everybody's got to be ready to go," Vrabel said.

As for Gonzalez, there is no timetable for his return.