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By Ben Watanabe
Contributing Sports Writer
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Questions abound for the New England Patriots this season.
How will quarterback Drake Maye adjust in his second year in the NFL? Can incoming coach Mike Vrabel begin to return the once-proud franchise to its former glory? Was short-armed left tackle Will Campbell the right pick at No. 4 in the NFL Draft?
Perhaps the lone sure thing was supposed to be cornerback Christian Gonzalez. And now he might be the biggest question mark of all.
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Gonzalez, who received All-Pro votes last season, hasn't practiced since July 29 reportedly due to a lingering hamstring injury. He missed practice again on Tuesday, with the normally self-assured Vrabel stepping over his words multiple times when asked about the third-year pro's absence.
"Well, it just hasn't gone -- you know, again, he's working hard," Vrabel said, according to Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal. "And whether it's again, we could say this one injury is going to be three to four weeks, one's going to be one to two. Everybody heals differently. So just making sure that when the players are back, that they can do their job with confidence, that they can protect themselves out on the field, and that they can't make it any worse. Those are some things that I try to use as guidelines for when players are ready to play and get back there."
Whatever that's supposed to mean is anyone's guess. The fact is, Gonzalez was the only player absent from Tuesday's practice, according to CLNS's Taylor Kyles, and with Wednesday a scheduled off day, time is tight for Gonzalez to get back on the field before Sunday's season opener.
Gonzalez's status has been the opposite of knee-jerk concern by the Boston sports media this summer. Despite his prolonged absence, Gonzalez wasn't a regular subject in media sessions until mid-August. He was even included in unveiling photos of the Patriots' "rivalry" uniforms last week.
Yet on the eve of a season in which very little can be taken for granted, the Patriots have yet one more reason for doubt.
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