The Patriots are heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Texans still waiting on a few key injury decisions, including the status of promising young cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
After suffering a concussion in last week’s win over the Chargers, Gonzalez was back on the practice field Thursday as a full participant. That’s a good sign, no doubt, but it doesn’t guarantee he’ll be cleared in time to suit up.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that Gonzalez remains in the concussion protocol and will be listed as questionable for the game. His availability now hinges on whether he clears the final stages of the protocol in the coming hours.
Gonzalez has already shown flashes of why the Patriots were so high on him. His return would be a huge boost to a secondary that’s been battling through injuries and inconsistency. If he’s cleared, expect him to be thrown right back into the mix against a Texans offense that’s shown it can move the ball through the air.
He’s not the only player the Patriots are monitoring. Edge rusher Harold Landry is also questionable with a knee issue.
Landry’s presence off the edge is a major part of what New England wants to do defensively, particularly when it comes to pressuring young quarterbacks. If he’s not at full speed-or can’t go at all-that could shift how the Patriots approach their pass rush on Sunday.
Running back Terrell Jennings, who’s also in concussion protocol, is in a similar spot to Gonzalez. He’s listed as questionable and would need to be activated to the 53-man roster in order to play. Jennings has shown some burst in limited action, and with the Patriots’ run game still looking for consistency, his availability could be important.
There’s also a bit of quiet optimism around cornerback Alex Austin, who’s eligible to return from injured reserve. Whether he’s activated remains to be seen, but it’s another potential reinforcement for a defense that could use the depth, especially if Gonzalez is unable to go.
Bottom line: the Patriots are still waiting on a few key medical green lights before finalizing their game-day roster. With a tough Texans team on deck, every piece matters-and the next 48 hours will be crucial in determining who’s lining up for New England on Sunday.