The banged-up New England Patriots defense took another hit on Monday.
Already without starting cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) and Carlton Davis III (undisclosed), the Patriots lost second-year cornerback Marcellas Dial to what Boston Globe senior NFL writer Ben Volin described as a potentially "significant left knee injury," adding that he was unable to put weight on his leg afterward.
Second year CB Marcellus Dial appears to suffer a significant left knee injury. Can’t put weight on his leg, and is helped up by trainers and Vrabel and loaded onto a cart. Cornerback is already a little thin with Gonzalez and Carlton Davis out of practice
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) August 4, 2025
Thin Patriots Secondary Getting Thinner
Dial appeared in all 17 games last season after being selected in the sixth round (No. 180 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he primarily played special teams, where he took 85.8 percent of his snaps, with only 60 snaps on the defensive side of the ball.
NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Phil Perry noted that the injury occurred during 11-on-11, with Dial getting meaningful reps with the team's top two corners sidelined.
Davis was placed on the non-football injury list on July 19 but passed a physical four days later. He's been off-and-on during training camp, while Gonzalez suffered his injury during last Monday's practice.
Dial took advantage of the increased workload and may have been working his way to increased playing time on defense this season. Instead, his sophomore season could be in jeopardy.
If his injury is severe, the Patriots may look to add a corner as insurance. Per the Patriots team site, 2025 undrafted free agents Jordan Polk and Brandon Crossley are listed behind Dial on the team's unofficial depth chart.
Earlier Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that he "wouldn't expect" Gonzalez to practice this week. On Wednesday, the Patriots host the Washington Commanders for a joint practice session ahead of Friday's preseason home opener.
Last week, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Gonzalez's injury was unlikely to impact his availability for the start of the regular season, while NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Tom E. Curran downplayed Davis' absence, saying, "It's not time" to panic over the 2025 free-agent signing.
In March, Davis inked a three-year, $54 million contract with $34.5 million guaranteed.
While the Patriots' starting corners might not have long-term concerns, any time injuries start to pile up before the preseason even begins, it could raise some alarm. Dial's injury will make New England's depth at cornerback worth monitoring leading into the regular season.