Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez didn’t take part in the team’s practice on Tuesday or their preseason opener on Thursday and he’ll remain off the field on Saturday.

Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters at a pre-practice press conference that Gonzalez is not ready to get back on the field. Vrabel said during the week that Gonzalez was “physically unavailable” and that the same injury will keep him out of practice Saturday.

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Gonzalez had been participating in practice all summer while looking for a contract extension and some have wondered if his current absence is related to that impasse. Vrabel has only cited the undisclosed injury as the reason for the change in status, however.

Vrabel also announced that reserve offensive lineman Ben Brown will miss the rest of the preseason with an injury he suffered in Thursday’s game.