The New England Patriots ’ Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers started in disastrous fashion. Not only did the team fall behind 17-0, it also saw its two best players — quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez — get banged up. While Maye was eventually cleared to return to the game, Gonzalez was not.
After initially being announced as questionable to return to the contest because of a head injury, he was ruled out for the rest of the contest midway through the second quarter. The star cornerback was shaken up on a tackle against wide receiver Ladd McConkey. Gonzalez hit his head while taking down the rookie, and despite walking off under his own power headed straight to the medical tent.
He eventually departed the sideline for the locker room and did not return. Gonzalez has been a bright spot on a mostly disappointing Patriots defense. Despite going up against a murderer’s row of wideouts, the 2023 first-round draft pick has played at a high level all year long — establishing himself as one of the NFL’s truly elite cornerbacks and a potential Pro Bowl and All-Pro candidate.
With Gonzalez absent, the Patriots turned to second-year man Isaiah Bolden to man one of the outside cornerback spots. The team also used Jonathan Jones and Alex Austin in starter-level roles..