Patriots' Christian Gonzalez sidelined again for Week 2 matchup against Dolphins

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the New England Patriots will compete against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, aiming to secure their first win of the season. However, the Patriots will be missing star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has been out for two consecutive weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during training camp. Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that Gonzalez did not practice during Week 2 and has yet to return to the field since his injury occurred on July 28 while he was covering player Stefon Diggs. With his absence, the responsibility to contain Miami's potent receiving duo, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, falls to Carlton Davis, Alex Austin, and Marcus Jones. The injury report for the Patriots is further complicated by the absence of defensive end Keion White, who is sidelined due to illness. In Week 1, White contributed to the defense with two tackles over 29 snaps against the Raiders, but with him ruled out, Anfernee Jennings and rookie Elijah Ponder are expected to step up. Jennings, who did not play in the previous game, is considered prepared to take on a significant role on Sunday, a notion backed by Vrabel. Meanwhile, linebacker Marte Mapu and right tackle Morgan Moses remain questionable for the game, with Mapu limited in practice and Moses also dealing with a foot injury. If Moses cannot play, Marcus Bryant and Vederian Lowe are candidates to fill in at right tackle. On the Dolphins' side, while Jaylen Waddle has been cleared to play after being limited by a shoulder injury earlier in the week, the team will be without four players: cornerback Storm Duck, offensive lineman Austin Jackson, defensive tackle Benito Jones, and tight end Darren Waller, all of whom have been ruled out due to various injuries. Both teams are seeking to recover from disappointing starts, as the Patriots lost their opening game 20-13 to the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Dolphins were defeated 33-8 by the Colts. This matchup holds significance for both teams in their efforts to establish momentum early in the season.