FOXBORO — Patriots top defender Christian Gonzalez will join the team this week for joint practices in Minnesota with the Vikings, but don’t expect him to participate.
Gonzalez suffered a hamstring injury late last month during training camp, and the team has been taking it slow with his return the field.
“Before you think I’m being funny, you’ll probably see Christian in Minnesota, you won’t see him on the field probably in a uniform,” head coach Mike Vrabel said Sunday. “See how I did that? You’ll see him in Minnesota, but he probably won’t be practicing this week. Because if I didn’t, then it would be like, ‘Oh, he’s –‘. But anyways, I wanted to clarify that.”
Gonzalez is one of the best cornerbacks in football, so it’s more important for him to be ready Week 1 against the Raiders than it is for him to participate in joint practices or preseason games.
Gonzalez’s fellow starting cornerback Carlton Davis III returned to practice Sunday and participated in team drills. Vrabel said, “You’ll see him in Minnesota.”
Right tackle Morgan Moses, whom the team has been easing back onto the field this summer as he recovers from an injury, also participated in Sunday’s practice and will also be in Minnesota. Rookie Marcus Bryant started in his place in Friday’s preseason game against the Commanders.
Vrabel said he feels good about the path Moses is on in his recovery.
Wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, a 2024 second-round pick vying for a roster spot, didn’t finish Friday’s preseason opener against the Commanders. He won’t be traveling to Minnesota, per Vrabel.
Patriots wide receivers Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte and rookie Kyle Williams are viewed as roster locks. If the Patriots elect to keep six or seven wide receivers, then Polk would be competing for a spot with fellow 2024 draft pick Javon Baker, veteran Kendrick Bourne and undrafted rookie Efton Chism. Bourne is also dealing with an injury, while Chism has made a strong push for a roster spot in the last week.
Chism led the Patriots in receptions and receiving yards in Friday’s preseason game then followed that up with a standout performance in Sunday’s practice. Baker has etched out a role on special teams that could help him lock in a roster spot, as well.
Also missing from Sunday’s practice were Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, safety Josh Minkins and outside linebacker Elijah Ponder.
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