The 2025 season began with the Patriots having a more questionable defense than most imagined, with the biggest proponent of that being cornerback Christian Gonzalez's absence. He suffered an injury at practice on July 28 and hasn't returned since, with rumors suggesting he dealt with a setback during his recovery from the initial hamstring injury.
Mike Vrabel hasn't had much to say about his return to the field except implying there is a chance that he could be back sooner rather than later. That was the thought going into their Week 2 matchup against the Dolphins, particularly because Gonzalez showed support for his teammates during their Week 1 contest.