FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez won't play in Sunday's season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders due to a hamstring injury, head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday.

Gonzalez, who was a second-team All-Pro in 2024, sustained the injury in practice on July 28 while covering wide receiver Stefon Diggs on a crossing route. He pulled up, holding the back of his left leg, and hasn't practiced since.

The Patriots entered 2025 with high hopes for a 1-2 cornerback combination of Gonzalez and veteran Carlton Davis III , whom they signed to a three-year, $54 million contract that includes $34.5 million in guarantees in March. Vrabel had joked that the Patriots' plan was to play "cat coverage" with Gonzalez and Davis -- "You got that cat, I got

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