After losing 13-20 to the Raiders in Week One, Mike Vrabel’s Patriots aimed to bounce back. However, the road got rockier. Instead of a clear path forward, they now face another setback. Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez won’t suit up for a second straight week. His hamstring injury is still nagging.

Gonzalez, who earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2024, hasn’t been near the practice field since getting hurt on July 28. That’s over a month of sitting out. On top of that, Vrabel announced that defensive end Keion White won’t play on Sunday either. White’s been sidelined all week due to illness. So far, the practice field has remained out of bounds for him.

Just last week, Keion White played 29 snaps and racked up two tackles against the Raiders. But now, his status remains murky. When reporters pressed Vrabel about White’s timeline, he said, “He’ll be out for Sunday. I’m not gonna speculate on what could happen after that.” Simple and direct. The Patriots aren’t getting any clearer answers, just more uncertainty.

Yet, there’s a silver lining. Rookie offensive tackle Marcus Bryant stands ready to fill in for Moses if needed. Vrabel made that clear on Friday. At least there’s a backup plan, though relying on a rookie in such a tough matchup raises eyebrows.

Selected 17th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gonzalez barely got a taste of his rookie season before a torn labrum ended it. Last year, Gonzalez made 59 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and two interceptions over 16 starts. The 23-year-old earned that second-team All-Pro honor fair and square. Of course, the injury woes don’t stop with Gonzalez.

Mike Vrabel faces injury scars ahead of Dolphins showdown

More issues for Vrabel. Right tackle Morgan Moses (foot) and linebacker Marte Mapu (neck) join the questionable list for Sunday’s game. Meanwhile, the Dolphins aren’t exactly injury-free either. They ruled out starting RT Austin Jackson (toe), CB Storm Duck (ankle), DT Benito Jones (oblique), and TE Darren Waller (hip). Plus, CB Ethan Bonner and RB Jaylen Wright are doubtful, and S Ashtyn Davis is questionable.

That said, it’s a tough blow for New England to lose Gonzalez, especially when facing Miami’s speed demons Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. As a result, expect the Patriots to lean heavily on their cornerback trio from Week One: Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, and Alex Austin. They’ll need to be sharp to slow down the Dolphins’ electric passing game.

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On defense, the edge depth gets a real test without White. Thankfully, Harold Landry, who was limited during the week, is set to play. He’ll start opposite K’Lavon Chaisson, with both rushing tackles as they did last week. The Patriots also plan to rotate in undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder. Meanwhile, Anfernee Jennings, who was inactive last game, will probably be active this Sunday.

However, Vrabel’s confidence in Jennings isn’t misplaced. Jennings showed solid flashes during preseason, racking up three sacks and four pressures. Plus, Mapu remains a wild card. His athleticism could help cover Miami’s speed, though his neck injury is a concern.

Still, New England aims to snap its losing streak at Hard Rock Stadium and finally beat Tua Tagovailoa, who’s beaten them seven times straight.