The New England Patriots are looking to carry their newfound momentum into the Week 3 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots have been without star cornerback Christian Gonzalez to begin the season, as he continues to battle through his hamstring injury. Fortunately for Patriots fans, Gonzalez may be nearing a return to the lineup, judging by the latest update.
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez Returns to Practice in Week 3
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel revealed on Wednesday that he plans on Gonzalez doing "some stuff" at the team's latest practice, per Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan. This is great news as Gonzalez hasn't practiced since suffering his hamstring injury at the beginning of training camp.
With Gonzalez returning to practice, it'll be interesting to see if he'll be healthy enough to face the Steelers. If he can return to action, the young disruptor would boost the Patriots' defense by immediately becoming the best player in the secondary. This would also benefit other defenders, as having Gonzalez back covering the opposing team's top receiver would give them more favorable matchups.
Gonzalez returning this week would be huge in trying to shut down the Steelers' top receiver, DK Metcalf. At the same time, coming back from hamstring injuries is tough due to the lingering threat of reinjury. If Gonzalez is brought back too early, the Patriots would be risking him reaggravating his ailment and potentially missing even more time, risking his season. The Patriots may choose to be cautious in how they bring him along and hold off on his season debut one more week.
If Gonzalez isn't able to suit up for the Patriots this week, then a Week 4 return seems like the most likely date, when New England hosts the Carolina Panthers. No matter when Gonzalez returns to the lineup, the defense will instantly improve due to his presence in the secondary.
Considering how well the Patriots' pass rush has played through the first two games, it's safe to say the defense's outlook is the most promising it's been in a long time. Combined with the team's offensive improvements, there's a good chance that New England will make some noise when Gonzalez rejoins the mix.