Rob Gronkowski could miss one year due to ACL, MCL rehab

Dec 8, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is taken off the field as they take on the Cleveland Browns in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cleveland Browns 27-26. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski took a helmet to his knee on Sunday afternoon from Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward, and it immediately appeared obvious that he suffered a severe knee injury.

On Monday morning, the Patriots confirmed that belief with the announcement that Gronkowski has suffered a torn ACL and torn MCL.

Gronkowski will now have to undergo another long offseason of rehab for the torn ligaments in his knee and unfortunately he could end up missing a majority of 2014 because of the damage he suffered.

Adam Schefter of ESPN passed along the news:

ESPN doctor Michael Kaplan believes Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will be out eight to nine months, possibly even a year.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2013

If Gronkowski is set to miss nearly all of next season, the Patriots will need to do something to make tight end one of their priorities this offseason.

Luckily for them, there is a good chance that one of the top three tight ends in the 2014 draft class — Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro, North Carolina’s Eric Ebron and Washington’s Austin Serafin-Jeffries — will fall into their laps with the first-round pick.

Tight end is a crucial part of the Patriots offense and any of these guys would be worth the investment.

Home/New England Patriots