New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is an absolute game-changer… when he can stay on the field. Gronkowski has played in just 18 games combined the past two seasons and is still recovering from ACL injury that ended his season early in 2013.
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But Gronkowski is making progress. He participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time this summer on Monday and now Albert Breer of the NFL Network is reporting that Gronk’s Week 1 outlook is “optimistic.”
As expected, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will sit tonight. Everything is still on course, though -- Optimistic, but not certain about Wk 1.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 22, 2014
While it’s not his call, we know what Gronkowski would decide about his Week 1 availability if it were up to him.
TE Rob Gronkowski says his plan remains to play the full 16-game regular season. No setbacks, he says.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 18, 2014
Although New England would obviously prefer Gronk to play in 16 games, the team would have to be thrilled if he’s even able to get close to reaching those heights.
He’s the Patriots top offensive weapon and helps make New England’s offense one of the more feared groups in the NFL. In just 50 career games, he’s caught 226 passes for 3,255 yards and an absurd 42 touchdowns.
New England and possibly Gronkowski will open the season on September 7 at the Miami Dolphins.