![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/VS4ZQ2FQ6IKVR4MLDG2JWDTKS4.jpg\")
Christian Gonzalez left the field during Monday’s practice and did not return. Matthew J. Lee\/Globe Staff<\/p>\nGonzalez did not return, leaving Alex Austin and 2024 sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial as the team\u2019s top boundary cornerbacks. Veteran Carlton Davis did not practice for the second straight day. Davis, who opened training camp on the non-football injury list, has been on the field for two of the Patriots\u2019 five practices. <\/p>\n
If Gonzalez misses significant time, the spotlight will turn to Davis \u2014 one of the team\u2019s high-priced free agent acquisitions. <\/p>\n
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Davis signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the expectation of becoming a lockdown tandem with Gonzalez. The biggest concern with Davis has been durability; he has never played a complete season in his seven-year NFL career. <\/p>\n
The Patriots will practice again Tuesday, but an update on Gonzalez likely will not come until coach Mike Vrabel speaks with the media Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Christian Gonzalez left the field during Monday’s practice and did not return. Matthew J. Lee\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
Other notes and observations from Day 5 of training camp: <\/p>\n
\u22c5 Wide receiver Ja\u2019Lynn Polk suited up for the first time this summer \u2014 and caught a red-zone touchdown pass from Drake Maye during the 11-on-11 period. Polk also took some reps as a punt returner, a role he did not have last season. It certainly behooves Polk to do whatever he can to increase his value. <\/p>\n
The three players on the physically unable to perform list \u2014 wide receiver Mack Hollins, tight end Austin Hooper, and tackle Vederian Lowe \u2014 remained absent. In addition to Davis, linebacker Jahlani Tavai did not practice for undisclosed reasons. <\/p>\n
For the second time during camp, defensive tackle Christian Barmore did not participate in team drills and instead worked out individually on the adjacent field. The Patriots are likely managing Barmore\u2019s workload, given the blood clots that sidelined him last year<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u22c5 Prior to Gonzalez\u2019s injury, New England\u2019s defensive backs matched up against the wide receivers in their first one-on-one drills of the summer. Kayshon Boutte was the only offensive player to win his two reps, both of which came against Gonzalez. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel like one-on-ones are good because it shows your ability to get open and catch the ball,\u201d the 23-year-old Boutte said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m a bigger guy \u2014 I\u2019m not really the shifty type \u2014 so I just got to get open instantly and catch the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n The one-on-one wins were a promising showing for Boutte, who is vying for one of the final receiver spots on the 53-man roster. Through five practices, Boutte has often lined up with the first team and appears to have the edge over Polk, Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker, and undrafted rookie Efton Chism. <\/p>\n The door could still open for another player if Hollins starts the season on PUP.<\/p>\n \u201cThe room is packed,\u201d DeMario Douglas said. \u201cThe better whoever is at the bottom, the better whoever at the top is going to be. Just because there\u2019s competition. I feel like we\u2019re all pushing each other.\u201d <\/p>\n Boutte said he\u2019s focused on controlling what he can control, hoping to build off his breakout 2024 season of 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel like when you do good, you want to do better,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to do more than I did last year.\u201d <\/p>\n \u22c5 The offensive line also matched up in one-on-one drills against the defensive front. Defensive end Keion White, who had expressed an eagerness to assert his dominance<\/a>, leveled rookie tackle Will Campbell on one rep and got the better of him on another. Campbell bounced back during the 11-on-11 portion, holding his ground and creating open lanes on a run-heavy day. <\/p>\n \u22c5 John Parker Romo took \u2014 and made \u2014 all of the team\u2019s field goal attempts, connecting from 30 to 50 yards. It\u2019s unclear why rookie Andres Borregales<\/a> did not attempt any kicks. The pair had previously split the reps. The Patriots also worked out four kickers days before camp started, so it\u2019s clear the competition for the starting job remains ongoing. <\/p>\n \u22c5 Former Patriots center Dan Koppen, now head coach at Rhode Island\u2019s La Salle Academy, brought his team to Monday\u2019s practice. Vrabel met with them after the session and brought the group on the field for a photo.<\/p>\n Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow<\/a> her @nicolecyang<\/a>. <\/p>\n