FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez was again held out of practice on Saturday as he continues to recover from an injury he sustained in a workout last week.
Coach Mike Vrabel didn’t reveal what the injury was that also kept the star cornerback out of uniform for Thursday's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. But said Gonzalez is currently conditioning and working to get back to the field.
His absence coincides with his representatives’ ongoing negotiations with the team on a long-term contract extension. The two sides are trying to work out a deal to keep him in New England beyond the final year of his rookie deal. Until last week he’d remained a full participant on the field, even as workouts shifted to full pads.
Vrabel said everyone involved is on the same page.
“Yes, absolutely. I think that’s the important thing. I’ve talked about his professionalism, everybody else’s. ... It was something that happened in practice,” Vrabel said. ”He’s where he’s supposed to be when he needs to be there. Treatment. Working with (director of sports performance) Frank (Piraino) and doing things. That’s my job to be on the same page with everybody here — players, coaches. And I’m confident that’s what they’re doing.”
Offensive lineman Ben Brown is expected to be out for an extended period of time after leaving the preseason matchup with Indy with a leg injury.
Brown started the game at center before leaving in the second quarter.
“Ben’s going to be a few weeks — 4 to 6. Eight, 10, 12 — even numbers. But it will probably be extensive throughout the preseason for sure,” Vrabel said.
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New England Patriots offensive lineman Ben Brown is helped off the field after an injury against the Indianapolis Colts as head coach Mike Vrabel walks towards the bench during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) runs past Channing Canada, right, during the team's NFL football training camp, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
BERLIN (AP) — Liechtenstein 's royal house said on Saturday that the tiny country's rules of succession will be changed so that a woman could in the future inherit the principality's throne.
Hereditary Prince Alois announced the change in his speech marking the country's national day. He said it was approved on Wednesday by the necessary two-thirds majority of family members who can vote on such matters.
“The ability to combine continuity and renewal is also a principle that we foster inside the princely house,” Alois said, according to a text of his remarks posted on the house’s website. “In our centuries-old history, it has served us well to make decisions in a long-term and very well thought-out way.”
“The line of succession will be adjusted from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture,” Alois said. “That means that in the future, the first-born child will, regardless of sex, become the heir to the throne and later the princess or prince of Liechtenstein.”
A statement from the princely house specified that the change will only apply to descendants of the children of Alois and his wife, Hereditary Princess Sophie, who are born in the future — so it won't affect the line of succession for now.
Prince Hans-Adam II remains the head of state, but in 2004 handed over most of his powers to Alois, his eldest son, who is now 58. That was in line with a tradition of Liechtenstein monarchs giving up the reins to their heirs.
The eldest of Alois' four children is 31-year-old Prince Joseph Wenzel. The second-oldest is Princess Marie Caroline, 29.
Liechtenstein, a wealthy nation of 40,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria, has an unusually powerful monarchy by European standards. The ruling prince has the power to veto referendum results, appoint judges and fire the government.
The principality is traditionally conservative and in 1984 became the last European country to grant women the right to vote in national elections. Male voters narrowly approved the change, which Hans-Adam had backed, in a referendum.
Last year, Brigitte Haas became its first female prime minister.
FILE - Prince Alois of Liechtenstein addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at the United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
