Patriots expect Rob Gronkowski to miss remainder of 2016
The New England Patriots have released an update on tight end Rob Gronkowski’s status that doesn’t look good for his chances of returning.
The New England Patriots received some bad news on Thursday, when it was announced that Rob Gronkowski would need surgery on his lower back. With the Patriots chasing down a Super Bowl, he’s a big piece to remove from their lineup.
For those that were wondering whether or not he would be able to return this season, it doesn’t sound like he will be able to. The Patriots provided an update on his status on Thursday night, and the team announced that he will likely miss the rest of the season. They said they would know for sure after his surgery.
Gronkowski left the game against the New York Jets this past week, after suffering back and leg pain. It was announced this morning that he would need surgery in Los Angeles. Certainly this is a huge blow for the Patriots.
Taking away Tom Brady’s top weapon on offense is good news for the rest of the AFC and perhaps brings everyone in the conference closer together. If there is a silver lining for the Patriots out of this, it’s the fact that they have Martellus Bennett and other capable targets on the roster for Brady.
Bill Belichick is the best in the league at adjusting to being without key players and he will have five games before the playoffs to get everything right with the team. At the end of the day, not having Gronkowski is really going to be a test when they need a top target in the playoffs.