Christian Gonzalez to Miss Remainder of Rookie Season With Torn Labrum, Per Report

Gonzalez's injury is just the latest to what's become a battered Patriots defense.

Oregon has continued to send more players to the NFL year after year and the most promising of this past draft class was cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who was selected by the New England Patriots with the 17th overall pick.

As of Wednesday morning, it looks like his rookie season has already come to an after tearing his labrum in Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 

The trade for JC Jackson was necessary because… #Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez, who would have been a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, is likely to miss the rest of the 2023 season with a torn labrum from a dislocated shoulder on Sunday, sources say. Surgery soon. pic.twitter.com/97usulsG6N

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2023

Rapoport goes on to report that Gonzalez will require surgery to repair his injury. 

It's a tough break for the former Duck, whose NFL career was off to a blazing start in 2023. He was recognized as the top defensive rookie in the league for the month of September. 

In just four games he recorded his first NFL interception, first NFL sack, defended three passes and logged 14 solo tackles. 

Since the end of Sunday's game, the Patriots have been quick to react to Gonzalez's injury, trading for Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson on Wednesday morning. The move brings Jackson back to Foxborough after, where he played from 2018 to 2021 before spending the 2022 season on the West Coast.

Gonzalez wasn't the only Patriot that went down in week 4. Pass rusher Matthew Judon tore his Biceps against the Cowboys and will also require surgery. However there's hope that a return may be possible for him in 2023. 

Despite playing in just four games as a rookie, Gonzalez showed that he can hang with the best receivers in the NFL, facing off against Miami Dolphins speedster Tyreek Hill and Philadelphia Eagles start A.J. Brown. 

Oregon Enters Bye Week With Health of Key Contributors Up in the Air