Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez heads into final preseason game without long-term contract extension
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
Christian Gonzalez is back practicing with the New England Patriots.
But the star cornerback remains without the long-term contract extension he’s been seeking all offseason with the regular season two weeks away.
Gonzalez returned to practice Monday after being sidelined since Aug. 10 with a minor injury, according to coach Mike Vrabel. He was back in uniform for the team’s workout on Tuesday, its last before heading to Cleveland to prepare for the Patriots’ final preseason game Thursday night.
Gonzalez wouldn’t confirm whether his absence was because of the injury and not related to the ongoing negotiations between the front office and his agents.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Gonzalez said. “I’m out here now. So it is what it is.”
New England’s projected starters sat out the first two preseason games and it’s unclear how much — if at all — they will play this week.
The Patriots are set to play the Browns Thursday at 8 p.m. on Channel 5.