New England Patriots
Both Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore missed Wednesday’s practice in Foxborough.
Christian Gonzalez didn’t take part in practice on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
September 30, 2026 | 5:42 PM
2 minutes to read
The New England Patriots will already have their hands full on Sunday trying to slow down Josh Allen and an explosive Bills offense in Buffalo.
Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff have to fret not only about getting Drake Maye and the Patriots offense back on track, but also about New England’s banged-up defense being severely shorthanded for its toughest early-season test.
New England released its injury report Wednesday evening, with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez missing practice in Foxborough with a shoulder injury.
Defensive lineman Christian Barmore (shoulder) and offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot) also missed Wednesday’s practice — while linebacker Christian Elliss (chest), fullback Reggie Gilliam (knee), edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder), tight end Eli Raridon (thigh), safety Brenden Schooler (back), and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) were all limited.
It’s also worth noting that quarterback Drake Maye landed on the injury report for the first time this season with a shoulder injury — although he was deemed a full participant in practice.
Gonzalez’s absence on Wednesday is a serious red flag for a Patriots defense set for a long afternoon this weekend against one of the league’s most dynamic QBs in Allen. Gonzalez was scheduled to speak with the media on Wednesday, but his interview session was canceled ahead of practice.
Gonzalez appeared shaken up early in Sunday’s 35-6 loss to the Jaguars after delivering a heavy open-field hit against LeQuint Allen Jr. Gonzalez was assessed by New England’s training staff after the tackle but played the rest of the game.
While Gonzalez will need to be counted on to negate some of Allen’s top targets, the Patriots’ defense will be in rough shape if a big body in the trenches like Barmore is also sidelined — given that Buffalo’s strength rests in Allen’s mobility and a steady amount of snaps doled out to James Cook.
Moses also exited Sunday’s road loss in Jacksonville in the second half, with rookie Caleb Lomu replacing him at right tackle. New England’s offensive line may be in flux moving forward, as the Patriots need to turn to another right guard after injuries to both Mike Onwenu and Greg Van Roten.
Maye’s spot on the injury report also bears watching, given that the third-year QB has faced plenty of questions this week about whether a shoulder ailment suffered during last year’s playoff run has continued to hinder him this season.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Maye said last year’s injury isn’t affecting his arm strength.
“No, it hasn’t. It hasn’t, and I think it doesn’t impact my decision-making, and that’s what makes and breaks play for quarterbacks,” Maye said. “I don’t feel like we’re struggling to move the ball. I think we’re turning the football over, doing things that are preventing us from scoring touchdowns, and I think that’s one of the biggest things for me.
“I think we’ve had a history when we don’t turn the football over of playing good football and finding ourselves on the right side of games. So that’s the biggest thing, and I’m looking forward to another good week of practice. It felt good out there today.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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