Christian Gonzalez Cleared for Super Bowl 60 After Postseason Concussion Scare
The New England Patriots received a significant boost ahead of Super Bowl 60 against the Seattle Seahawks, with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez not appearing on the team's final injury report. This development comes after Gonzalez entered the NFL's concussion protocol following the Patriots' Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last month.
Patriots Injury Report Details for Super Bowl 60
According to the USA TODAY injury report updated on February 8 at 5:25 a.m. ET, the Patriots were monitoring six players heading into the championship game. Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (hamstring) was the only player listed as out. Two defenders—linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) and outside linebacker Harold Landry III (knee)—were listed as questionable.
The rest of New England's injury report showed positive trends. Quarterback Drake Maye (right shoulder) participated fully in practice, as did offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee). Offensive tackle Morgan Moses was listed as not injury related/rest while still getting work in during the week.
Seahawks Injury Situation
Seattle's injury report contained more names, but many players were full participants by Friday. Quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (hand) both practiced fully on Friday. Other players including offensive tackle Charles Cross (foot) and safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle) showed progress throughout the week.
Gonzalez's Concussion Protocol Journey
Gonzalez's absence from the Super Bowl injury list is particularly noteworthy given his recent health scare. In a January 14 report, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Gonzalez was in the concussion protocol after the Chargers game, stating "Gonzo continues to play at a high level" while emphasizing the process would take as long as necessary.
Gonzalez himself briefly commented after the Wild Card win, saying he was "fine." The official update came two days later on January 16, when Patriots.com staff writer Evan Lazar reported that Gonzalez had cleared concussion protocol and was removed from the injury report for the Divisional Round matchup.
Lazar noted that Gonzalez practiced Wednesday in a red non-contact jersey before becoming a full participant in the final two practices. The Patriots' defensive approach benefited significantly from Gonzalez's availability, with the team blitzing Justin Herbert on 45.5% of his dropbacks during the Wild Card game according to Lazar's analysis.
Super Bowl 60 Details and Betting Outlook
Super Bowl 60 is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. NBC will carry the broadcast, with streaming available on Peacock and Fubo (subject to regional restrictions).
Entering Sunday morning, the betting market favored Seattle. BetMGM odds listed the Seahawks as 4.5-point favorites with a 45.5-point total.
The Patriots' decision not to list Gonzalez on their Super Bowl injury report confirms his full recovery and availability for the championship game, providing New England with a key defensive asset against Seattle's offense.
