Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez heads into final preseason game without long-term contract extension

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Christian Gonzalez is back practicing with the New England Patriots.

But the star cornerback remains without the long-term contract extension he’s been seeking all offseason with the regular season two weeks away.

Gonzalez returned to practice Monday after being sidelined since Aug. 10 with a minor injury, according to coach Mike Vrabel. He was back in uniform for the team’s workout on Tuesday, its last before heading to Cleveland to prepare for the Patriots’ final preseason game Thursday night.

Gonzalez wouldn’t confirm whether his absence was because of the injury and not related to the ongoing negotiations between the front office and his agents.

“I’m not going to get into that,” Gonzalez said. “I’m out here now. So it is what it is.”

New England’s projected starters sat out the first two preseason games and it’s unclear how much — if at all — they will play this week.

Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Tuesday that team owner Robert Kraft’s statement in July about offering Gonzalez a deal to make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history remains the team’s desire. Gonzalez is playing under the rookie deal he signed in 2023. He will make a base salary of $2.25 million this season and $18.1 million in 2027, the final year of the deal.

“We want him here,” Wolf said. “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.”

Asked of trading Gonzalez was a consideration, vice president player personnel Ryan Cowden didn’t directly rule it out.

“I think we’re continuing to work on the negotiation side with Christian and that’s where it stands,” he said.

Earlier this month, Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon received a four-year, $132 million contract extension with $101 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player at his position in the league.

Gonzalez acknowledged at least some frustration with seeing other situations getting worked out around the league.

“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.”

Wolf wouldn’t elaborate on the potential barriers to completing a deal with Gonzalez, though he said both sides are clear on what the other wants.

The Patriots open at Seattle on Sept. 9 in a rematch of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl 60 win in February.

But Wolf doesn’t view that Week 1 matchup as a deadline for the negotiations with Gonzalez.

“We’re just kind of taking it a day at a time right now. We haven’t set a deadline,” Wolf said.

Asked if he plans to play in the season opener without a new contract, Gonzalez neither committed to it nor ruled it out.

“I’m focused on today, on this practice,” he said. “And we’ll see where we go from here.”

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