A ‘surprise’ if Rob Gronkowski played in any preseason games
By Mike Dyce
The New England Patriots are trying to get tight end Rob Gronkowski prepared for the the 2014 season after an injury plagued 2013. Gronkowski is coming off an ACL injury and the Patriots are handling Gronkowski cautiously, not allowing him to be hit during practice.
It is expected that Gronkowski will sit out the entire 2014 preseason.
From the Boston Globe:
"It would be a surprise to see Gronkowski play in any of New England’s preseason games, though taking a hit and seeing how he responds to it mentally is likely one of the final steps of his recovery."
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The Patriots have avoided hitting him and he has been participating in some 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work at training camp, but most of Gronkowski’s work is done off to the side.
“The side work’s going good. Getting used to everything I can do, getting in conditioning, which is my number one factor right now, that’s what I can work on to the max, that’s what I’m going to be working on to the max,” Gronkowski said. “Running around, getting my body used to everything, and just working individual, listening to my coaches, getting individual routes down, getting individual blocking down, to the best of my ability that I can.”
If Gronkowski made it into a preseason game, can’t picture it being for more than a few snaps.