New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Christian Gonzalez, the team’s top cornerback, is in concussion protocol following Sunday’s playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers.Gonzalez was shaken up on the second play of the fourth quarter when he broke up a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston.With the Patriots leading 9-3, Gonzalez was battling to get in front of Johnston in an effort to intercept the ball. Both players went to the ground and Johnston landed on Gonzalez’s head, which briefly became pinned against the turf as Johnston tried to corral the pass.Watch the play in the embedded video below:Gonzalez did not return to the game, which the Pats went on to win 16-3.Vrabel said during a news conference on Monday that Gonzalez was not cleared to re-enter the game, a situation that means the player is officially in concussion protocol.”How long that lasts, I don’t know. But when you don’t return to the game — when they won’t let you back in the game — that would put him in the protocol,” Vrabel said. “Hopefully, we’ll get him back.”Related video above: Recapping Patriots’ win over the ChargersGonzalez, 23, is in his third season with the Patriots, who drafted him 17th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. The University of Oregon product made his first Pro Bowl this season. He made 69 total tackles and had 10 passes defended in 14 regular-season games.Vrabel said Gonzalez has played at a high level and has been willing to take on various coverage assignments.”Those are the expectations that he has for himself and that we have for him,” Vrabel said of Gonzalez. “We appreciate what he’s done and his willingness to line up different places.”According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Gonzalez did not allow a reception during any of the five times he was targeted across 26 coverage snaps in Sunday’s game. He has allowed a league-low minus-9.7 receptions over expected this season, including the playoffs.As a team, the Patriots held the Chargers to 207 total yards and kept them out of the end zone while sacking quarterback Justin Herbert six times, including a K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sack that resulted in a turnover.New England’s next opponent in the playoffs will either be the Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texans, who meet in the sixth and final wild card game Monday night. The Steelers-Texans game can be watched on WMTW Channel 8 with coverage starting at 8 p.m.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Christian Gonzalez, the team’s top cornerback, is in concussion protocol following Sunday’s playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Gonzalez was shaken up on the second play of the fourth quarter when he broke up a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
With the Patriots leading 9-3, Gonzalez was battling to get in front of Johnston in an effort to intercept the ball. Both players went to the ground and Johnston landed on Gonzalez’s head, which briefly became pinned against the turf as Johnston tried to corral the pass.
Watch the play in the embedded video below:
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Gonzalez did not return to the game, which the Pats went on to win 16-3.
Vrabel said during a news conference on Monday that Gonzalez was not cleared to re-enter the game, a situation that means the player is officially in concussion protocol.
“How long that lasts, I don’t know. But when you don’t return to the game — when they won’t let you back in the game — that would put him in the protocol,” Vrabel said. “Hopefully, we’ll get him back.”
Related video above: Recapping Patriots’ win over the Chargers
Gonzalez, 23, is in his third season with the Patriots, who drafted him 17th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. The University of Oregon product made his first Pro Bowl this season. He made 69 total tackles and had 10 passes defended in 14 regular-season games.
Vrabel said Gonzalez has played at a high level and has been willing to take on various coverage assignments.
“Those are the expectations that he has for himself and that we have for him,” Vrabel said of Gonzalez. “We appreciate what he’s done and his willingness to line up different places.”
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Gonzalez did not allow a reception during any of the five times he was targeted across 26 coverage snaps in Sunday’s game. He has allowed a league-low minus-9.7 receptions over expected this season, including the playoffs.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Christian Gonzalez did not allow a reception on any of his 5 targets across 26 coverage snaps in the Patriots Wild Card victory.
Gonzalez has allowed a league-low -9.7 receptions over expected this season, including the playoffs.
Powered by @awscloud
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 12, 2026
As a team, the Patriots held the Chargers to 207 total yards and kept them out of the end zone while sacking quarterback Justin Herbert six times, including a K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sack that resulted in a turnover.
New England’s next opponent in the playoffs will either be the Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texans, who meet in the sixth and final wild card game Monday night. The Steelers-Texans game can be watched on WMTW Channel 8 with coverage starting at 8 p.m.