Christian Gonzalez active vs. Bears despite illness

This wasn't on any injury report all week. Then, a little after 6pm ET, it was.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Patriots just downgraded CB Christian Gonzalez to questionable for tonight's game at Chicago due to an illness.

That's the kind of news that makes a Patriots fan's stomach drop, and probably not for the same reason Gonzalez's did. New England was already thin at corner coming into Soldier Field, and losing its Pro Bowl CB on a few hours' notice would have left a very young group trying to cover Chicago's receivers on national TV.

The good sign came quickly. Gonzalez was on the field at Soldier Field getting loose with everybody else, and by most accounts he got through pregame warmups without looking limited.

Mike Reiss

@MikeReiss

On the scene: CB Christian Gonzalez gets loose at Soldier Field.

Then the inactives came out, and the full picture of the secondary was clear. Gonzalez's name wasn't on the list. 3 other corners were, including Carlton Davis III.

Mike Reiss

@MikeReiss

Patriots inactives: DT Joshua Farmer, 3rd QB Behren Morton, G/C Ben Brown (knee), CB Karon Prunty (hamstring), CB Channing Canada (hamstring), CB Carlton Davis III (neck). CB Christian Gonzalez will attempt to play through illness.

Davis missing is no surprise. The Patriots ruled him out Wednesday with the neck injury, and it's his 3rd straight game on the sideline. Karon Prunty and Channing Canada are both down with hamstrings too. So New England is down 3 corners, and the one it can't lose is playing sick. That's not ideal. It's still a lot better than the alternative.

The offensive line took a hit too. Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker went on injured reserve with the hamstring he hurt in Sunday's win over the Jets, which means at least 4 games out. Fellow interior lineman Ben Brown is inactive with a knee injury, so both starting guards are missing in Chicago.

What to watch: snap count. Being active and playing your normal workload are 2 different things, especially with an illness that showed up the same day. If Gonzalez starts needing breaks or ends up in the medical tent, Chicago's quarterback is going to find out fast how deep the Patriots' corner room really is tonight.