Aaron Rodgers Dishes High Praise For Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has faced a gauntlet of talented wide receivers to start the season, but things will reach an entirely different level Thursday.

New England is headed down I-95 to take on Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.

Gonzalez is already viewed as one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL, but a shoulder injury put him on the shelf last season and has limited him to just six total appearances thus far in his career. Rodgers was similarly sidelined last season, and revealed in his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday that the two rehabbed at the same facility this offseason.

Rodgers got to know Gonzalez over the course of the summer, and came away impressed with the 22-year-old.

"I think he's a great player," Rodgers said. "… I got to know him a little bit this offseason. He's a great kid and he's super, super talented. He's an elite player... Christian is one of those guys who enjoys a challenge, he enjoys competition and will go from side to side."

Gonzalez is expected to shadow Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who has just 10 receptions for 117 yards on the young season -- a far cry from what many expected coming into the year. The Patriots will need Gonzalez to keep the talented young wideout at bay once again if they have any hope at taking sole possession of second place in the AFC East.