New England Patriots second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez is embracing a role as a leader, as he looks to bounce back from the 2023 season.
Gonzalez was injured in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys last year. He missed the rest of the season with a torn labrum, and that put an abrupt end to what started as a promising rookie campaign.
Now, he is healthy and ready to go.
The second-year Oregon product has a year in the defensive system under his belt. He showed very early on what he could do against some of the best receivers in the NFL, and he’s hoping to build on that progress in 2024 and beyond.
Some of his teammates are already beginning to look to him as a defensive leader. With only four NFL games under his belt, Gonzalez still feels like he has a ways to go before he’s considered a leader, but he’s accepting of being whatever the team needs him to be.
“I don’t really look at it like that, but if they do, of course, I love to help my teammates, ask questions, let them know I’m there,” Gonzalez said, via NESN.com’s Jason Ounpraseuth. “I only played four games. I still went out there and do what I do. I love when they come up and ask me questions because that gets me better trying to explain what I see and put it into words not just doing it on the field.”
The fact that Gonzalez is embracing his role as a second-year player is promising. He has the skill set and athletic ability to be a defensive pillar in the secondary for years to come.
His teammate Jonathan Jones, a two-time Super Bowl champion, recently said he’s going to be one of the best players in the league. When it comes to a player like Gonzalez, it’s hard not to get excited about what’s to come.