As the Patriots were preparing for their Week 1 matchup with the Dolphins on Sunday, a game that is widely being considered a must-win showdown to keep their season on track, they faced the unfortunate circumstances of dealing with more injured players whose absence could make a significant negative impact on their chances to walk out with a win.
One of those players is cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who hasn't practiced with the team since July 28, when he injured his hamstring. It's a massive blow to their secondary, especially after how they fared last week against a much less talented Raiders team.
This week, they have already ruled out Gonzalez and Keion White, and are dealing with the uncertainty of starting right tackle Morgan Moses' availability to suit up. If he is unable to play, Mike Vrabel has already stated that rookie Marcus Bryant will play in his position.
But there might not be a reason to be worried just yet about starting a third rookie on the offensive line.
There's a good chance that Marcus Bryant will have to put his NFL debut on pause this week
In a video posted by the team's social media of the players arriving in Miami on Saturday, Moses is seen among the group getting off the plane, which is a good sign regarding his potential availability for Sunday's matchup.
If his injury had been more severe, he likely wouldn't have traveled to the game, so there's a good chance he plays on Sunday afternoon.
Morgan Moses (questionable, foot) made the trip. https://t.co/JYv2kJjsqR
— Bernd Buchmasser (@BerndBuchmasser) September 13, 2025
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Although it would be best for Moses not to play if there is a risk of him further injuring himself, the fact that he is with the team for this week's game seems to indicate that it's nothing too serious to be worried about.
Bryant looked good throughout the summer and earned a spot on the roster as a result. So if he needs to fill in for Moses for one game, there isn't necessarily a lot of concern about how he will fare.
However, because there were some struggles from the group last week, which already has two other rookies starting with Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, there is room to worry about having more than half of the group made up of inexperienced players, even if the Dolphins' defense looks like they can be easily dominated after their disastrous effort against the Colts last week.
That could be what ends up becoming the Patriots' reality at some point, but Moses' presence in Miami signifies there's a good chance he can start, and hopefully, to give the team their best chance of stealing a win, that's what we'll see this afternoon.