The New England Patriots faced a significant challenge in a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday. One of the key matchups to watch was wide receiver AJ Brown against second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Brown had only positive remarks about the 2023 first-round pick.
“He’s a great player,” AJ Brown said, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I had picked him coming out two years ago as the best defensive back in the draft. He’s a great player. He gave me good work today.”
Christian Gonzalez got off to a strong start as a rookie in the 2023 NFL season before a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4. Despite this setback, he remains a promising player for the Patriots as they aim to build a young core heading into 2024.
Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, Gonzalez was considered a near lock for a top-10 pick but surprisingly slid. Devon Witherspoon was the first cornerback taken, going No. 5 to the Seattle Seahawks. The Washington Commanders then made a surprising choice by selecting Emmanuel Forbes with the No. 16 pick, leaving Gonzalez available for the Patriots at No. 17.
It will be interesting to see if Gonzalez plays in Thursday’s preseason game against the Eagles. Often, when teams have joint practices, starters do not play in the games. For a veteran like Brown, it would be surprising to see him get many reps, if any. However, a younger player like Gonzalez might see some game time. Regardless, it is encouraging for Gonzalez to face an elite receiver like Brown and to receive such positive feedback from him.
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