Patriots Defense Faces Bills
Patriots Rule Out Injured Gonzalez and Barmore for Matchup Against Bills
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Key Points
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Drake Maye was a full participant in practice all week with his right shoulder injury, and Vrabel said Gonzalez and Barmore were the only players given an out designation.
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Gonzalez recorded eight tackles and five passes defensed in the first three games, while Barmore had four tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits.
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Gonzalez has a history of injuries: a labrum tear ended his rookie season after four games, a concussion kept him out of the 2024 season finale, and a hamstring injury sidelined him for the first three games of 2025.
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New England’s offensive struggles—including difficulty running the ball—had already made the defense especially important; losing Gonzalez and Barmore further limits the team’s options against Buffalo’s offense.
The New England Patriots will field a significantly weakened defense on Sunday against the undefeated Buffalo Bills, ruled out of cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore due to shoulder injuries. 985thesportshub reported both players missed all practice this week, marking the first game either has missed in 2026. Quarterback Drake Maye is available despite his own shoulder issue after participating fully in practice all week.
The Patriots (1-2) are already struggling on offense and rebound from a lopsided 35-6 loss to Jacksonville. Losing their top cornerback and premier pass rusher against Josh Allen's high-powered Bills offense significantly weakens New England's path to an upset. Charles Woods will start at corner, while several backup linemen take expanded roles upfront.
Two Star Defenders Out With Shoulder Injuries
Christian Gonzalez recorded eight tackles and five passes defended in the first three games before his shoulder injury forced him out. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore added four tackles, one sack, and three quarterback hits. Winnipeg Free Press noted this marks the first game either player has missed this season, a significant blow for a defense facing Buffalo's offense.
Coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the designations on Friday, saying there is "nothing we can do about it." He emphasized the team will prepare replacements and ensure they are "ready to go" against the Bills. Drake Maye, however, faces no limitations despite his right shoulder issue and will start at quarterback.
Gonzalez's History of Physical Setbacks
This is the latest injury for Gonzalez, who signed a four-year, $135 million extension making him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. His career has been plagued by injuries since being drafted in 2023. A torn labrum ended his rookie season after just four games, while a concussion sidelined him for the 2024 season finale.
Most recently, a hamstring injury kept him out of the first three games of this season. Gonzalez has struggled to stay healthy despite his elite contract, raising questions about durability moving forward. His absence Sunday against Allen compounds the Patriots' defensive challenges significantly.
Backup Corners and Pass Rushers Fill the Gap
Charles Woods will start in place of Gonzalez, backed by Marcus Jones and rookie Karon Prunty at cornerback. On the defensive line, Milton Williams, Cory Durden, and Joshua Farmer will receive expanded roles to replace Barmore's production. These depth players will face one of the league's top offenses in a critical divisional matchup.
New England's offense has already struggled with the run game and pass protection, placing extra burden on the defense. Losing two starters against Buffalo's passing attack narrows the Patriots' path to victory considerably. A loss would drop them to 1-3 and create a two-game AFC East deficit to the undefeated Bills.
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