Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Patriots to be without Christian Gonzalez, Ja’Lynn Polk in joint practices, preseason game with Vikings
Mike Vrabel provided several injury updates on Patriots players on Sunday before their upcoming joint practices with the Vikings.
Anyone hoping to see one of the game’s best wide receivers and one of the game’s best cornerbacks going head-to-head at Patriots-Vikings joint practice this week will be out of luck.
Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez won’t be a participant when they hold a joint practice with the Vikings in Minnesota later this week, Mike Vrabel told reporters Sunday. Additionally, wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk won’t make the trip to Minnesota, either, but cornerback Carlton Davis and offensive tackle Morgan Moses will make the trip.
“You’ll probably see Christian in Minnesota, you won’t see him on the field probably in a uniform,” Vrabel said.
Advertisement:
Gonzalez hasn’t practiced since July 28, when he suffered a hamstring injury during New England’s first practice with pads of training camp. Shortly after, multiple reports indicated that Gonzalez would miss time, but was expected to return for the start of the season.
Still, Gonzalez’s absence from the two days of joint practices (Wednesday and Thursday) prevents him from getting a good preseason test against one of the top wide receivers in the league in Justin Jefferson. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year was named first-team All-Pro in 2024, just like Gonzalez. With Gonzalez not practicing this week, he’ll almost certainly miss Saturday’s preseason game, too.
Advertisement:
As for Polk, he went down with an apparent shoulder injury in Friday’s preseason win over the Commanders. He was favoring his right shoulder after going down on a jet sweep for a one-yard gain, getting medical attention on the sideline and didn’t return for game action.
The upcoming practices for Polk could’ve been vital in his chances to make the 53-man roster. The Patriots’ 2024 second-round pick has been viewed as a potential cut candidate as over 10 wide receivers compete for the roster.
Davis has practiced very little in training camp, but he was on the field on Sunday. Vrabel has explained at least one of Davis’s days off from practice was due to a “maintenance day.”
Moses was also on the practice field Sunday after missing Friday’s preseason opener against the Commanders. Moses, the Patriots’ projected starting right tackle, has been load-managed throughout training camp, with Vrabel saying he feels good about the path the 34-year-old veteran is on.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com