New England Patriots Star Says He Is Healthy Headed Into Year Two

It's difficult to have a better start to a rookie season than what New England Patriots 2023 first round pick Christian Gonzalez put up in the first month of his NFL career.

The former Oregon cornerback excelled through the first three games against some of the best receivers in football including A.J. Brown of Philadelphia, Tyreek Hill of Miami, and Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets.

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Gonzalez suffered a shoulder injury in a week four beatdown against the Dallas Cowboys which really marked the beginning of the end for the Patriots season. But according to a report from ESPN's Mike Reiss, Gonzalez is fully healthy once again as the team prepares for training camp next month.

"It feels amazing to come out and be with the guys again," Gonzalez said, sharing that he is feeling good as he works his way back.

Gonzalez was named the NFL Rookie of the Month for September before a torn labrum caused him to miss 13 games in his rookie year. It's not frequent where a player comes out in the first few games of his rookie year and does enough to already be among the best in the league at his position, but that was the case with Gonzalez.

He figures to play a key role in a Patriots defense that will look to replicate its success over the last several seasons under a new head coach in Jerod Mayo.

If Gonzalez can return to form and stay healthy, it could be a special season for the young corner.