Rob Gronkowski: No pressure from New England Patriots

Since the New England Patriots did not put tight end Rob Gronkowski on the physically unable to perform list before the season began, they clearly expected him to return before their seventh game.

Through four games there has been no sign of Gronkowski.

Some in the media believe Gronkowski was ready to play in the Patriots’ 30-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday night and Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported their was a “divide” between Gronkowski and the Patriots. Howe wrote the “Patriots believe Gronkowski is healthy enough to make his season debut after an offseason that included back surgery and a series of arm procedures” and “Gronkowski and his camp are wary about returning too soon, particularly after last season when he broke his forearm and then re-injured it when he returned for the playoffs.”

On Wednesday, Tom Curran of Comcast Sports New England asked Gronkowski to confirm Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio’s report that the two sides are in fact on the same page.

“Definitely,” Gronkowski told Curran. “We were on the same page from the get-to and we’re still on the same page. It’s going good. I’m progressing every week. I’m feeling better every week, getting stronger every week, getting in better condition every week. So I’m still sticking to the motto day-by-day.”

As for his playing status? Gronkowski is still listed as “limited” in practice.

The Patriots will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals Sunday.