Going into their playoff matchup with the Chargers, the Patriots were at their peak in health, with players like Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane returning to the starting lineup after missing several weeks with injuries. It was a good spot for the team to be in for the biggest game of the season, only to have a few players leave with injuries on Sunday night.
The most notable of whom was cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who had a tremendous pass breakup that helped keep the Chargers out of the endzone. But that play clearly left him shaken, and he was immediately taken to the blue medical tent for further evaluation.
He was then questionable to return with a head injury, and he never got back into the game for the final quarter.
Because his presence on the field was greatly missed, Mike Vrabel updated reporters on Monday morning, announcing that Gonzalez is, in fact, in concussion protocol and hopes to get him back before next week's game.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel says CB Christian Gonzalez is in concussion protocol: "Wherever that goes, it goes...Hopefully, we'll get him back."
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) January 12, 2026
If he's unable to clear protocol before facing either the Steelers or Texans, the Patriots will be dealing with a new problem they hadn't anticipated, and it could be devastating for the defense after their impressive performance against the Chargers.
Christian Gonzalez's injury should send the Patriots into panic mode if he can't play next week
Although it was somewhat expected that Gonzalez may have suffered a concussion, hearing the confirmation doesn't make the situation any better.
The hope, of course, is that he will be okay, and if that means he needs to miss some practice or even next week's game, then so be it. His health matters more than having him on the field.
But that does mean the Patriots' secondary will be much more vulnerable against teams with firepower in their wide receiver rooms, and it's expecting a miracle from those expected to fill in for Gonzalez if he is ruled out for Sunday's game.
Carlton Davis III is usually on the other side of the field and holds it down while Gonzalez owns the other side, but the veteran has had some inconsistent moments in recent games, like racking up another defensive pass interference call in Sunday's matchup.
We've also seen the struggles when giving Marcus Jones more opportunities, as he is easily outmatched due to his size. So this might mean that Alex Austin, who has been on injured reserve, will have to be activated this week if Gonzalez can't go.
We'll have to see what happens, and we'll keep you updated with all the latest details from the team as the week continues.