Christian Gonzalez is feeling healthy entering Year 2 and is ready to take on a larger responsibility in the New England Patriots' secondary.
The second-year cornerback is willing to listen to his coaches, but he wants the toughest assignments each week.
“Obviously, I want that matchup,” Gonzalez told reporters on Tuesday when asked about going up against the other team's top receiver.
Gonzalez got a taste of that as a rookie. He actually got many coverage reps against some of the game's best receivers, lining up against the Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown, Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, and New York Jets standout Garret Wilson earlier in the 2023 season.
There weren't many signs of rookie going through growing pains during that stretch. Gonzalez allowed 15 receptions on 22 targets for just 148 yards over those three games, per Pro Football Focus. He didn't give up a touchdown either as he recorded an impressive interception of Tua Tagovailoa in Week 2.
Gonzalez's efforts through the first few games of the season earned him Defensive Rookie of the Month for September as he was already garnering praise for being one of the game's next great young corners.
However, Gonzalez's strong rookie season came to an end in Week 4. He tore a labrum and dislocated his shoulder early on in the Patriots' loss to the Dallas Cowboys, requiring him to undergo season-ending surgery.
How Christian Gonzalez is progressing following shoulder injury ahead of second season with Patriots
As the Patriots are set to begin organized team activities (OTAs) in a couple of weeks, Gonzalez wouldn't give any indication if he would be 100 percent ready when the time comes later in May. But he's progressing in the right direction.
“That’s in the past,” Gonzalez said of his injury. “I’m ready for right now, and happy to be back in the building and around the guys.”
Gonzalez was pestered on multiple occasions if he's been cleared yet to practice in the padless setting later in May.
“I’m just focusing on still rehabbing, strengthening the shoulder and just trying to get better,” Gonzalez responded to one such question.
However, he seemed to signal that he hadn't been medically cleared yet.
“That’s kind of out of my control, just doing what I got to do,” Gonzalez replied. “Like I said, get my shoulder back right, learn the playbook, be around the guys.”
OTAs are padless and non-contact practices, mostly allowing teams to get a sense of where they're at ahead of training camp. So, there isn't necessarily a huge need for Gonzalez to participate in those.
But it would certainly be nice for the Patriots if he was out there in practice. Their cornerback room has some fine top-end talent with him, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. There isn't much depth beyond them, though.
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