Patriots rule out CB Christian Gonzalez, DT Christian Barmore vs. Bills
Both New England defenders are out Sunday against Buffalo with shoulder injuries, a significant hit to a defense facing the Bills' top-five offense
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The Patriots will face the Bills on Sunday without two of their most important defenders. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore both have been ruled out with shoulder injuries.
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez and DT Christian Barmore both are out Sunday versus the Bills due to shoulder injuries.
Gonzalez is New England's shutdown corner and a central piece of the secondary, while Barmore anchors the interior of the defensive line against the run and in the pass rush. Their absence arrives at a rough time: Buffalo entered the week with one of the NFL's most productive offenses, and the Bills' passing attack is exactly the group the Patriots' secondary was built to slow.
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the designations Friday, with both players carrying shoulder issues that could not be cleared in time. The Patriots will lean on their rotation at corner and along the defensive front, but replacing two starters against this matchup is a steep ask.
The pair's status beyond Sunday remained unclear, though nothing in the ruling suggested either injury is expected to be season-ending.