The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot to prepare for before their Week 3 contest against the New England Patriots. They have already started by trying to address their abysmal run defense, which includes adding a former Patriot linebacker to the team. They have a very obvious hole in that phase of the game, and New England is more than capable of exploiting that if Pittsburgh does nothing about it. Of course, the staple of that team is its defense, so it's not like the Steelers can just score at will. They have their work cut out for them for sure.
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Steelers' Ja'Whaun Bentley celebrates after making a stop during his time playing for the New England Patriots.
As practice starts up for both teams, the Patriots receive some good news, which the Steelers certainly hoped to avoid: Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez will practice in hopes of making his season debut soon, as Head Coach Mike Vrabel announced.
#Patriots star CB Christian Gonzalez, out since the preseason with a hamstring injury, is set to practice today, per coach Mike Vrabel.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 17, 2025
When healthy, Gonzalez is an absolute menace on the outside, and he would be in a battle with DK Metcalf throughout the game. With the kind of lockdown coverage that the third-year cornerback can provide, Aaron Rodgers may have to prepare to distribute the ball across his many other weapons as the game progresses. The depth of this team will definitely be tested as time goes on.
Behind Gonzalez on the depth chart is Marcus Jones, who has usually been a reliable rotational piece, although he and the rest of the secondary have had some struggles to begin the 2025 season. Maybe Jones can rebound and play like he normally can when he's not expected to see every snap on defense. Carlton Davis III could definitely use some help as well, as he has struggled to be the top cornerback on the team so far.
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Carlton Davis III celebrates a victory in Super Bowl LV after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the first two games of the season, the Patriots have given up a combined 677 passing yards against quarterbacks Geno Smith and Tua Tagovailoa, neither of whom are considered as Top 10 players at their position. Going up against Rodgers will not be an easy task for this unit. They need Gonzalez back as soon as possible, and not just for this game. They need him to have any realistic chance of making the playoffs.
Steelers May Still Dodge A Bullet
Of course, Gonzalez is just practicing this week after not doing so for about a month. There is no guarantee that he suits up and plays in Week 3. Even if he does, he may see limited reps, and the Steelers could capitalize on snaps that he is out for. It all depends on how well he heals up between now and Sunday. He will most likely be a game-time decision.
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Christian Gonzalez looks on during a home game for the New England Patriots.
Hamstring injuries are very finicky. The Steelers are dealing with their own issue like that in the cornerback room with Joey Porter Jr., who may or may not play in Week 3 as well. For both teams, rushing their top corners back could lead to issues throughout the entire season. The practice report will give a lot of clues as to how each team feels about letting their stars suit up in a potentially pivotal Week 3 battle.
It will take time for Gonzalez to get up to speed with the amount of time that he has missed. To make sure his hamstring injury does not linger on, he could end up sitting in Week 3. It's better to have him for the long haul of the season than to try and get his full effort now just to have him limited for the rest of the year. Rodgers may be able to have a field day after all.
What do you think about Gonzalez practicing for the Patriots prior to their game against the Steelers? Do you think he will play? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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