FOXBORO — Christian Gonzalez showed superstar potential during his injury-shortened rookie season, and one of his veteran teammates believes Patriots fans should be very excited about the young cornerback as he enters Year 2.

Jonathan Jones, the Patriots’ longest-tenured defensive player, said Gonzalez already is on track to becoming one of the NFL’s top corners.

“He has every attribute that you want in the corner,” Jones said after practice. “He’s just continuing to build his mental game. Physically, he’s what you want in the corner, and he’s just continuing developing. He’s going to be one of the best players in the game.”

Gonzalez handled daunting matchups against A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill as 21-year-old rookie before suffering a season-ending torn labrum early in his fourth game as a pro.

Watching the remainder of the season was a strange experience for the first-round draft pick, who said Wednesday that he’d never missed a game due to injury at any level of football before 2023. He showed no ill effects from his injury in OTAs and minicamp, however, fully participating in every New England practice that was open to the media this spring.

Asked whether he’s back to 100%, Gonzalez replied: “I’m feeling good. Y’all seen it out there. I’m feeling good.”

Jones, meanwhile, has been limited after undergoing offseason surgery, as has slot corner/punt returner Marcus Jones. Their recoveries have created additional practice reps for some of the Patriots’ other young corners, like Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson and Azizi Hearn

Hearn, who was on New England’s practice squad last season, had an interception and a pass breakup during Wednesday’s practice.

“They’re competing,” Jonathan Jones said. “It’s an honor to watch and to sit back and see them grow. … They’re coming in this year and just improving — proving to themselves and to their teammates that they want to continue to get better.”