Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Noteworthy: Patriots’ Star Christian Gonzalez Absent at First OTA Practice

Starting point is 00:00:00 OTAs officially begin at Gillette and Christian Gonzalez's absence while not alarming is unequivocally noteworthy. This is Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked on Podcasts Network, your team every day. What's happening? I am your host, Nick Cattels. On today's episode, a surprise name surfaces as the top backup option at guard. during the first day of OTAs. In the second segment,

Starting point is 00:00:39 Caleb Lomu debuts at OTAs, and it reminds us that he'll likely get more snaps during camp than initially anticipated. But first, the latest on Christian Gonzalez. Christian Gonzalez was not at OTAs on Wednesday. The media was told he was not going to be at OTAs on Wednesday by Mike Vrable. Mike Vrable also told the media that communication has been great between all the players that were absent.

Starting point is 00:01:04 there were a number of guys who were not there, including Christian Gonzalez. Mike Vrable said the communication between those players and the team has been fine. It's been great. But this is noteworthy. And I'll tell you why this is noteworthy in a couple of minutes. But the first thing I want to do is I want to relax all the aggregators, all the fans, the people that listen and watch this podcast, those who might be concerned that I'm going to freak out. I'm jumping off the cliff on this Christian Gonzalez stuff.

Starting point is 00:01:34 I am not. I assure you, I am not. I want to relax all of those aggregators out there to not pull a clip and say, Nick Cattel's on lockdown Patriots said that Christian Gonzalez is on his way to a holdout. No, this is a period of the camp during summer that, you know, players across the NFL have collectively bargained to be voluntary. So it's perfectly fine. Christian Gonzalez not being at a voluntary practice is within the rules. There's no issue with that.

Starting point is 00:02:15 I'm not sitting here telling you this is Armageddon. I'm not telling you this is the end of the world. There could be certainly a number of reasons why Gonzalez decided to not go to OTAs, or at least the first day of OTAs. Could be personal. Could be another obligation that he had personally, right? maybe not his own thing, but somebody else's thing in his life. It could be professional.

Starting point is 00:02:41 He could say, I don't want to step on the field for a voluntary practice, given the fact that I am on the precipice of signing a gigantic contract extension. And it should be noted, and I will note, that Gonzalez has been at the facility before the first day of OTAs. He was there for the voluntary program. He was there working out. he was talking to coaches, all that good stuff. He has been at the facility. This is not somebody who has had issues with the franchise over the past couple of months.

Starting point is 00:03:14 This is not something that's been building. So I'm going to be legit to all of you, as you know, try to be as reasonable and as objective as I can be. Christian Gonzalez could return tomorrow. He could return later this week. He could return over the weekend. Who knows? And we look back at this and said he missed the first day of OTAs, not a big deal. voluntary. He could have missed the entire period if he wanted to. And now we're moving on.

Starting point is 00:03:41 But this is why I say Gonzalez missing the first day of OTAs is no doubt, noteworthy, and we're going to stick a pin in it. Because this could be. I'm not telling you it is, but this could be the beginning of Gonzalez taking care of himself. Now, there is nothing wrong with that. If you are a professional athlete and you are on the brink of signing a gigantic deal, if you're getting closer and closer to the time when you can sign this deal and you're going to be making tens of millions of dollars guaranteed, and you say to yourself, I don't want to risk my health, I don't want to risk a severe injury, so I'm not stepping on the field for anything that's voluntary. I get it. I get it. And that is,

Starting point is 00:04:32 within the right of Christian Gonzalez. And you could say it's absolutely a smart move. But we have to think about moving forward. You get to mandatory minicamp. Is Gonzalez going to have the same kind of thoughts in the back of his head where he's going to be there for mandatory minicamp, but is he going to hold back? Is he going to be not as involved physically? Is he going to make more business decisions? Is he going to make those business decisions at mandatory mini camp is going to make those business decisions at camp if an agreement has not been struck. Is he going to make that type of business decision when it's a joint practice against the Philadelphia Eagles? This is why we have to stick a pin in this.

Starting point is 00:05:17 We have to remember this. And we have to look at it and say, this might not be anything at all or it could be the beginning of understanding how Gonzalez is eventually going to handle his business over the next couple of months. He's going to be ultra cognizant of his health. And I was not one of the people last year, and I have no regurts about this. I was not one of those people last year that were screaming from the mountaintops

Starting point is 00:05:46 when Gonzalez pulled his hamstring, trying to tell all of you that he was doing this because he was protecting himself, he was protecting his money. I did not believe that then. I don't believe it now. He legitimately injured his hamstring. He missed a few weeks.

Starting point is 00:06:00 As we said, hamstrings at the time and real time are very difficult to gauge. They are very difficult to recover from, especially if you have a significant hamstring, strain, sprain tear. You can look at the NBA, Oklahoma City. Janlon Williams right now, one of their best players. He's out with a hamstring. He came back to start this series, and he quickly had to leave the series, the Western Conference finals because of a hamstring injury.

Starting point is 00:06:26 So I'm not one of those people who got wrapped up into this last year and said that Christian Gonzalez is making business decision. But this, this camp, yes, if he's holding out when we get to mandatory minicamp, it's problem. You know, he's absent day one of OTAs. Fine. If he's absent for mandatory mini camp, that's a business decision. If he's absent for camp, if he's absent for joint practice, if he shows up to those

Starting point is 00:06:52 mandatory things, but the size of stand on the sidelines and watch the action, that's a business decision. And so will this continue? I don't know. This might be nothing. Or it could be the beginning of Christian Gonzalez and his representation playing hardball with the Patriots organization. This could indicate things might get a little bit more rocky until a deal gets signed. The other part of this is Gonzalez himself and Mike Vrable and others, I believe Elliot Wolf has commented on this, Gonzalez,

Starting point is 00:07:32 has stressed that he wants to be a captain. He wants to be a leader of this team. And if you want to be a captain, if you want to be a leader, then you want to make sure you're taking part in as many things as you can take part in. Now, I understand. There are veterans who have been captains

Starting point is 00:07:52 who are not at OTAs across the league, and that certainly happens. But Gonzalez has never been a captain. So if you want to be a true leader of a program, program, then showing up at OTAs and maybe not going full bore at OTAs, but showing up at OTAs is setting the example. You're setting the example of wanting to be a leader in that room, being a captain. Again, this could be a personal thing, so I'm not going crazy over it.

Starting point is 00:08:23 And I don't think anybody should go crazy over it. But we keep an eye on it because if you want to be a captain, you want to be a leader, but you start making business decisions on an individual level, that's contradictory. And if you skip mandatory stuff, that is definitely a contradiction of saying you want to be a captain, saying you want to be a leader to the coaching staff and Mike Vrable, but then deciding to not show up or give a little bit less

Starting point is 00:08:51 during these mandatory dates. That would be a bigger problem. So not Armageddon. This is a voluntary situation. players negotiated the right to not have to go to OTAs. We don't know the reasoning behind it. And Gonzo's been at the facility prior to this. He could return any moment.

Starting point is 00:09:13 But yes, we should be paying attention to these types of things with this specific player given the circumstances. And if we get further down the road here during this summer, and these types of things are popping up. up, then the concern is going to grow about a contract extension. Now, other players were not in attendance, Kishon Booty, Carlton Davis, Mack Hollins, Harold Landry, Gabe Acus, and Kyle Dixon, UDFA wide receiver. Those guys were also not on hand, day one of OTAs.

Starting point is 00:09:47 Gabe Accus has not signed yet, and we got to remember last year we went through this, second round picks in last year's draft started to get guaranteed money. and that caused a lot of second round picks to miss early activity. So we have to remember that. Second round pick negotiations are much more difficult in 2026 than they were in 2016. So it might be a little while until Accus is actually out there on the field. Let's hope that things get wrapped up sooner rather than later with both him and Christian Gonzalez. Caleb Lomu gets plenty of opportunity and the latest on Kyle Williams' role expanding.

Starting point is 00:10:29 It's coming up next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to by Indeed. Filling an open position shouldn't feel like a shot in the dark. When your inbox is overflowing and you're feeling the pressure, you need a system that works. This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs instead of just hoping for a lucky break. Indeed, sponsored jobs, targets to candidates who meet your criteria for location and experience.

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Starting point is 00:11:39 indeed sponsored jobs. Caleb Lomu was at right tackle during the first OTA practice, hashtag as expected. But day one also served as a reminder that Lomu is set to get plenty of opportunities to improve this summer. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer. Get your daily Patriots fix completely ad free by joining the Everydayer Club today. Start your seven day free trial right now and get closer to your team without the interruptions. Click the link in the show notes or go to lockdown patriots.com to claim your free trial. Also don't forget if you're watching us on YouTube, click that thumbs up, give us a like. Throw a comment in your thoughts on Christian Gonzalez, not being at day one of OTAs.

Starting point is 00:12:27 and don't forget to subscribe. The next goal is 10,000 subscribers. The slow march continues on as we attempt to build this community getting ready for the 2026 season. I remind you again as well, coming up this next month of June, three episodes a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You'll get three episodes a week.

Starting point is 00:12:50 We take a little bit of a step back to get ready, to take a huge step forward during camp, joint practices, preseason games, and then get you ready for actual football. But in June, three episodes a week. And as I have said, it's a broken record, but I want to keep reminding you. And I want to tell those who might be joining us for the first time that the first week of June, if slash when the A.J. Brown trade happens. We are going to be all over it. So there are no restrictions whatsoever when it comes to that possible A.J. Brown talk, if not probable A.J. Brown talk.

Starting point is 00:13:25 Caleb Lomu, the watch has begun. Caleb Lomu, first day of OTAs, he rotated snaps with Morgan Moses at right tackle with the ones. As far as the ones, Caleb Lomu took 0.0 snaps at left tackle with Drake May on the football field. He didn't take a single snap at left tackle. So that should tell you.

Starting point is 00:13:55 you what Mike Vrable and Elliot Wolf and others have said from the end of last year, moments it felt like after that Super Bowl loss, Will Campbell is your starting left tackle. Now, of course, anything, everything can happen, whatever we know, but zero snaps on the left side for Caleb Lomu with Drake May on the field, first day of OTAs. This was Caleb Lomu on the right side when May was out. out there. And Lomu rotated with Morgan Moses, which again tells us that Morgan Moses is going to be

Starting point is 00:14:33 heavily managed. And I think this is going to be the same thing that we saw last year. And it should be. It's a very smart approach. And we know that Moses posted every week last week. He fought his way through some injuries. Yes, but he was out there. And so the best way to approach this is to manage Morgan Moses the same way you managed him last year. So I think, you know, OTAs managed, mandatory mini camp, camp, practices. He's going to be managed. I would expect him to play a decent amount as long as he's healthy during the joint practice against Philly. Preseason games, I don't think you're going to see a lot of them. And so this is going to continue. So because of that, because you're going to continue to manage Moses, who is now, what, 35 years old,

Starting point is 00:15:27 because you're rotating Morgan Moses in and out as well, that's going to give Caleb Lomu more snaps than your usual backup tackle, which is great news. You're trying to develop Lomu. You're trying to get him ready to be that guy for 2027. And so Morgan Moses being in and out, managing his reps to make sure that he, he can give you as much football as he can in 2026, those circumstances set up great for Caleb Lomu because he will be the one that's replacing Morgan Moses when Moses is not practicing during a game

Starting point is 00:16:04 week. Lomu's getting those reps, baby, with the first team. So he's building chemistry with the rest of the offensive line. It's getting his feet wet, playing against the number one defensive end. Now, of course, Harold Landry is also likely going to be managed, so there is that. But you get the point. Mike Vrable said to the media on Wednesday that he wants the best five up front. That is what they said last year.

Starting point is 00:16:31 I think that's going to be your typical go-to comment when Mike Vrable has asked about the defense, the offensive line and the shuffling of the offensive line. We're going to go with the best five. We want the best five. Frabel also said that Caleb Lomu has been quote-unquote unbelievably coachable, which is really good to hear. He needs to develop. He's not going to develop unless he is coachable, unless he wants to develop. And Vrable did mention that he believes Caleb Lomu will have the ability to play both sides. He believes Lomu has the ability to play the right and the left.

Starting point is 00:17:12 left. So in case of injury, that is obviously significant. But it's also obvious that as far as the first day of OTAs, Lomo right now is a right tackle. That's what the team wants him to be. Subject to change, of course, if he stinks, if Will Campbell's abominable during camp and can't get out of his own way and you're almost forced to do something. But right now, as expected, Lomu on the right side, rotating with Morgan Moses. If you're wondering, James Hudson was playing on the left side as the backup to Will Campbell. Another player I want to talk about, another young players, Kyle Williams. Vrable told the media on Wednesday that Williams is going to, quote, line up at different positions, unquote.

Starting point is 00:18:02 And so this is different than last year because, you know, Kyle Williams coming out of the draft, many would tell you, he did have versatility. We talked about it. We talked about it after he was drafted by the Patriots. He does have versatility. He can play inside. He can play outside. But for the majority of his time last year, he was playing the ex position. He was playing on the outside.

Starting point is 00:18:23 He was playing at the boundary. So this is a different approach by the coaching staff with Kyle Williams. And I think it's a good approach. I think it's the right approach. instead of just being labeled the X guy, he's got to be interchangeable out there on the field with other players. If you want the most out of Kyle Williams, he's got to showcase that versatility.

Starting point is 00:18:48 You've got to slide him inside every once in a while. You've got to play him outside every once in a while. I'm also not going to ignore the idea that this could be making room for A.J. Brown. If A.J. Brown is a few days away from being a patriot, as many have told us is very, very, very likely the case. then you're not going to play Kyle Williams a bunch of snaps at X when you know AJ Brown is going to be playing a bunch of snaps at X. Now, Brown could be slid inside as well.

Starting point is 00:19:18 But if AJ Brown is going to be your dude playing a lot on the outside at that boundary, then you might as well get Kyle Williams accustomed to playing different positions at wide receiver within this offense. It just makes all the sense in the world. and I don't anticipate a lot of three wide receiver sets for the Patriots in 2026. I think you're going to see, as we've discussed a little bit here and there, I think you're going to see heavy personnel. You're going to see a full back a decent amount.

Starting point is 00:19:47 You're going to see two tight end sets. I think they might dabble in the 13 personnel, the three tight end sets. I'm not sure that you're going to see much three wide receiver sets in this offense. So if that's the case, if you want to get Kyle Williams on the field, he's got to show that versatility. The versatility is key. Because if you're playing a bunch of two wide receiver sets, AJ Brown's going to be out there for most of them.

Starting point is 00:20:13 Romeo Dobbs are going to be out there for most of them. But if one of those two guys needs a rest, Kyle Williams needs to have that ability to jump right in and not miss a single beat. So we'll keep an eye on this. This is also something to monitor. How is Kyle Williams deployed within this offense? I think it makes a lot of sense.

Starting point is 00:20:34 You have really three guys that can play inside and outside with AJ Brown, Romeo, Dobbs, and Kyle Williams. And Matt Collins has shown the ability to play big slide. He did it last year. So important, important part of Kyle Williams' growth is proving he can have that versatility at the NFL level. Coming up, Elijah Verit Tucker's limited involvement, his surprise backup and more.

Starting point is 00:21:02 This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. All eyes will be on Elijah Veritucker's level of involvement over the next couple of months as he continues to work his way back from his most recent significant injury. But on Wednesday, the first day of OTAs, it was a reminder.

Starting point is 00:21:29 It was a reminder that the Pats will not be pushing AVT too far too soon. Thanks for checking out the lockdown podcast. Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. We appreciate every single one of you, especially those checking us out here in late May. We know it's not the most exhilarating part of the year, especially when we get into June, but we appreciate every single one of you and those who go through the grind. Man, oh man, we're with you. Lots of nuggets that we have not talked about just yet. We talked about Christian Gonzalez's situation, those who missed OTAs day one.

Starting point is 00:22:08 We talked about Caleb Lomu, Kyle Williams. A lot of other nuggets, though, coming out of the first OTA practice that was open to the media. As we discussed with Morgan Moses' last segment, we all have to be ready, prepared, for Elijah Vera Tucker to be managed. I think the Patriots are going to manage him an awful lot. And it began day one of OTAs. Elijah Verit Tucker did not participate in any 11 on 11s. He was off to the side conditioning with staffers.

Starting point is 00:22:42 Now, he was participating in half-speed periods. He was participating in periods that did not have a defense out there. And when he was participating, as we would expect, he was the top left guard. He was your starting left guard on the offensive line. But I think we should expect slow, gradual involvement from Elijah Vera Tucker. The Patriots are going to be very cautious. They are going to be very, very calculated with how they deal with AVT.

Starting point is 00:23:17 And his snap count, his usage rate over the next couple of months. Because the number one goal, obviously, is to have ABT out there, week one, fully healthy, ready to roll. So Morgan Moses is going to be managed. Elijah Vera Tucker is going to be managed, which begs the question, if AVT is going to be managed as much, if not more than Morgan Moses,

Starting point is 00:23:45 who is going to back up AVT at Left Guard? Now, all the talk has been about Ben Brown. Ben Brown was not your top backup at Left Guard, at least day one of OTAs. Andrew Rupsich was the first guy up. So when Elijah Barrett Tucker went to conditioning during 11 on 11s, it was Andrew Rupcich and not Ben Brown stepping up during those times. And Rupsich spent three or four years with the Tennessee Titans.

Starting point is 00:24:20 He was brought in by Mike Vrable and Mike Vrable's front office when Vrable was in Tennessee. So they are very aware. of what Andrew Rupsich can do. He has NFL experience. He played 12 games between 2023 and 2024. So when you look at the NFL experience and the fact that he has a connection with some of the coaching staff,

Starting point is 00:24:45 including the head coach, we have to keep an eye on Andrew Rupsich. He might end up being that backup guard to go along with Ben Brown, which of course leads us to ask the question should we now assume that Ben Brown is the backup center first and foremost, and Rupzich is actually the backup left guard? Is that how this unfolds?

Starting point is 00:25:10 Again, it's only the first day of OTAs. But right now, that looks like it's the plan. Jared Wilson, starting center, Ben Brown, backup center. Elijah Verit Tucker, starting left guard, Andrew Rupsich, backup left guard. That's how it's lined up right now. Again, obviously subject to change. It's late May. We just got past Memorial Day.

Starting point is 00:25:37 A lot can change over the next couple of months. But this is what's happening, day one, OTAs. It is Rupsich, not Brown, backing up Vera Tucker. Some good news on the offensive line. Mike Owenu was there. Now we know that Mike Owenu was not at the first week of the voluntary program. He was in the facility for the second week of the voluntary program. We discussed it at that time. It is now OTAs, voluntary, as we mentioned with the Gonzalez stuff, Michael Wenu walking into a

Starting point is 00:26:11 legitimate contract year. He is done after this season. So Michael Wenu being there, being a full participant, day one of the OTAs, I think that is a significant. can sign that Michael Wenu is very, very understanding of his situation, knows that he's looking at unrestricted free agency. And if he wants to stay in New England, if he wants to try to coax an extension out of the Patriots, then he's going to be there and he's going to be, you know, working hard to get in shape, in shape earlier than usual, coming off of the best football that he played as a Patriot. in the second half of 2025.

Starting point is 00:26:59 So this is great for somebody who has had some questions about, you know, the weight and does he take it seriously early enough and all that kind of stuff? He's there, day one of OTA is getting his work in. That's a very positive sign to me regarding Michael Wenow and regarding the offensive line. Michael Wenu, again, he was your best offensive lineman in the second half last year. You want him to be good. Phil Perry posted that Will Campbell. Of course, last time we saw Will Campbell, he was injured, he was struggling.

Starting point is 00:27:33 Phil Perry said that Will Campbell was moving well. First day of OTAs. He actually often finished first in the conditioning runs between the offensive linemen. So looks like Will Campbell is 100% healthy, ready to go. And yes, again, he's your starting left tackle right now. And unless something crazy happens, I think he's going to be. the guy out there week one. Kishon Booty.

Starting point is 00:28:00 Kishan Booty is in communication with the team, according to Mike Vrable. So they are still communicating with each other, which is good to know. Vrable said that Booty liked where he's been training. Okay. I would have to imagine if Kayshan Booty had any kind of future with the Patriots. The Patriots would like Kishan Booty training at the facility. But that's what Mike Vraeble is. said, quote, he's liked where he's been training, unquote.

Starting point is 00:28:31 Mark Daniels posted that Vrable expects Kishan Bouti to pick up where he left off last season when he returns. I don't think that's happening. I don't think Kisham Bouty is going to return. Kishan Bouty has not been at the facility and doesn't seem to have any desire to be at the facility. We know the trade rumors, all the stuff that we've talked about. I would be very surprised if Kisham Bouti is a Patriot post-Labor Day.

Starting point is 00:29:03 He might be able to hang on. He might continue to work out, whatever. Maybe he shows up to mandatory Manny Camp. It doesn't get too involved if he's not traded by then. But eventually, he's going to be gone. It is when, not if. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen for being in every dare.

Starting point is 00:29:24 reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C. Radio. Don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel. Hit that like button and subscribe. And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get Lockdown Patriots ad free plus members only Discord access and more. Head to Lockdown Patriots.com or check the link in the show notes to learn even more. Have a fantastic day. We'll talk to you next time.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Noteworthy: Patriots’ Star Christian Gonzalez Absent at First OTA Practice

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