Rob Gronkowksi, who was previously listed as questionable versus the Houston Texans, will play on Sunday Night Football for the New England Patriots.
According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski will play on Sunday Night Football versus the Houston Texans. Gronkowski missed Week 13 with a knee injury suffered the week before.
#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (knee) will play tonight, source confirms (as @BenVolin reported). He'd looked good in practice, made the trip.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 13, 2015
The Patriots are in the midst of a two-game losing streak and don’t want to lose any ground in the race for AFC home field advantage. New England has not lost three straight games since 2002. With wide receiver Julian Edelman out, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick opted to bring back Gronkowski to the active roster, albeit possibly too soon.
New England’s offense has been largely ineffective due to a myriad of injuries. Quarterback Tom Brady will have a reliable receiving target on Sunday Night Football in Gronkowski. This is important as Houston at 6-6 is in the middle of an AFC South divisional race and boast the No. 3 defense in football against the pass. Look for Brady to target Gronkowski early and often on Sunday Night Football in Week 14 to stay afloat in the AFC home field advantage race.