Christian Gonzalez finds himself in a holding pattern regarding his professional future.
The Patriots’ star cornerback enters the team’s final preseason game without the long-term contract extension that has been a topic of speculation over recent months.
Gonzalez returned to practice on Wednesday after being sidelined since August 10 due to what coach Mike Vrabel described as a minor injury. However, rumors persist that his absence had more to do with ongoing contract negotiations.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Gonzalez, 24, told reporters. “I’m back on the field now. So it is what it is.”
Set to begin the fourth year of his $15 million rookie contract, Gonzalez has seen New England exercise the option for a fifth year, intensifying talks about his long-term future with the team.
Heading into the Patriots’ third preseason game — a tilt with the Browns in Cleveland on Thursday — Gonzalez did make it clear that he wasn’t entirely happy with the situation.
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“It’s frustrating. But I’m focused on the season. I’m focused on here now and doing what I have to do,” he said. “I’m out here to compete and get better.”
In July, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he had offered the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 draft the “highest contract in Patriots franchise history,” which would seemingly eclipse defensive lineman Milton Williams’ four-year, $104 million pact. Among cornerbacks, Devon Witherspoon’s four-year, $132 million extension with Seattle is the landmark deal.
The Patriots are well aware of the what Gonzalez brings to the table — he allowed league-low 43.4% completion rate when targeted last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
“We want him here,” New England VP of player personnel Elit Wolf told reporters Wednesday. “He’s an elite player. Been on record saying that before and we continue to work with his representation to find a resolution that works for everyone. We’re just taking it a day at a time right now. We haven’t [set] a deadline.”
If Gonzalez has one, he isn’t saying either, though he didn’t exactly rule out missing the season opener — a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks — as an option.
“I’m focused on today, on this practice,” he said. “And we’ll see where we go from here.”