Christian Gonzalez Cleared; Harold Landry III Questionable for Sunday Against Texans

The New England Patriots are gearing up for an important divisional round matchup against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium this Sunday. With most players available, the Patriots are optimistic about their chances in this playoff clash.

Player Injury Updates

Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez is cleared to play after successfully exiting concussion protocol. He suffered a head injury during last week’s Wild Card victory over the Chargers but has since practiced without restrictions.

Gonzalez’s Impact

• Incredibly effective against Chargers, allowing no catches on five targets.
• Enables increased blitz pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
• Facilitates defensive strategies focused on blitzing, especially against C.J. Stroud of the Texans.

In terms of injuries, linebacker Harold Landry III is questionable due to a knee issue. Landry has struggled for the past few weeks and only participated in 26 snaps last game. If he’s unable to play, Anfernee Jennings and Elijah Ponder may fill the gap on defense.

Defensive Reinforcements

Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga could significantly boost the run defense. Tonga has not played since Week 16 but returned to practice this week. He brings strong run-stopping capabilities and versatility in the short-yardage offense.

Offensive Strategy

The Patriots have a mostly clean injury report on offense, with the notable exception of jumbo tight end Thayer Munford Jr., who has a knee injury but is expected to play. The team may utilize jumbo packages to strengthen their protection against the Texans’ formidable pass rush.

Texans’ Challenges

For the Texans, the absence of standout receiver Nico Collins, due to a concussion, poses a significant challenge. Collins was instrumental during the regular season, leading the team with 1,117 receiving yards. His absence could hinder Houston’s offensive performance.

• Texans have struggled offensively without Collins, averaging 4.8 yards per play without him compared to 5.6 with him.

Game Day Forecast

The Patriots will make final roster decisions before the game, with a deadline to activate running back Terrell Jennings and cornerback Alex Austin from injured reserve. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.