Patriots receive major scare during the first quarter of Sunday's game against Cowboys
UPDATE: Patriots announce that they have downgraded cornerback Christian Gonzalez to out for the remainder of the game with a shoulder injury. The New England Patriots took a hit on Sunday afternoon. Already limited at the cornerback position, Patriots rookie Christian Gonzalez went down after executing a hit on Tony Pollard. While he appeared to […]
UPDATE: Patriots announce that they have downgraded cornerback Christian Gonzalez to out for the remainder of the game with a shoulder injury.
The New England Patriots took a hit on Sunday afternoon.
Already limited at the cornerback position, Patriots rookie Christian Gonzalez went down after executing a hit on Tony Pollard. While he appeared to get up, he was taken out of the game and assisted into the blue medical tent by trainers.
While the game continued, Gonzalez emerged from the tent and headed straight to the locker room. He was listed as questionable to return.
On the following play, the Patriots put fellow cornerback Myles Bryant on Cowboys' top receiver CeeDee Lamb, and things did not work out for New England.
Lamb beat Bryant, finding his way into the end zone and hauling in the pass from Dak Prescott to put the Cowboys ahead.
Gonzalez was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and has not disappointed. For his contributions in his debut season, the cornerback was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for September.
In his NFL debut Gonzalez sacked Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Jalen Hurts and followed it up by interception Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa in Week 2.
Gonzalez has not shied away from the tough challenges, going up against the top receivers on the Patriots in practice and then having to cover the best ones around the league during games.
And he has been asked to step up in recent weeks due to the injuries that have plagued a few of the Patriots cornerbacks including Jack Jones and Marcus Jones. With that, it is Bryant and Gonzalez who have been tasked with filling in and they have not missed a step.
It will be tough for the Patriots defense to replace such a vital piece if Gonzalez is out.
Featured Image via Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
