Report: Gronkowski will try to practice this week

[Kid~Brady]

The Patriots have been doing pretty well without tight end Rob Gronkowski. They could be doing even better with him.

Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe reports that Gronkowski will try to practice this week. He suffered a broken forearm on November 18, promptly undergoing surgery.

Report: Gronkowski will try to practice this week | ProFootballTalk

 

[dales804]

Getting him back to practice is definitely a good thing but I am not overly concerned with him not playing this week. It would be preferable for him to get game action before the playoffs begin and I think that will come, even if it's week 17.

Thinking more though, it would be nice to have Gronk to keep Smith off of Brady. The Patriots really have faced some great pass rushers this year.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

That would be Gronkastic if you could return Sunday night, but I feel the smaht thing to do is to hold him out til the last game (just so his first game back won't be a playoff game). Then again a broken arm is a broken arm, if its healed, really no chance of re breaking it.

The Pats have not had the both Gronk and Hernandez healthy at the same time since basically the AFC Championship game! Topgether they are a match-up nightmare!

 

[TyronePoole]

I don't think it's any great mystery why this abnormal piece of info is coming out now early in the week, it forces SF to account for him in practicing/gameplanning. I'd be very surprised if he plays.

 

[mayoclinic]

The fantasy: Gronk comes back this week, pancake blocks the Smiths for a Ridley rushing TD, catches a TD, then sits down for the rest of the season, at least until the Miami game.

The reality: it's not worth risking rushing him back.

 

[leehanu]

Great News even if Gronk doesn't play this Sunday.

 

[leehanu]

I don't think it's any great mystery why this abnormal piece of info is coming out now early in the week, it forces SF to account for him in practicing/gameplanning. I'd be very surprised if he plays.

Exactly what I had in mind after seeing the report. It forces SF to spend time preparing for him.

 

[Double TE]

If he wears a cast why can he not play? His legs/back/head were not injured. It was a broken arm?

 

[yukon cornelius]

they released shiancoe as well....i would certainly think decoy move on gronk practicing just to get SF to plan for him....

but coupled with the shiancoe release....i wouldn't be surprised to see him on the field


i don't expect it....but it wouldn't surprise me

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Hopefully that means he's cleared to practice. I assume he'd be limited. But just getting into the flo and figuring out how to operate effectively with a protective cast on will be a start. Even after 6 weeks of TC he needed a couple of weeks to shake the rust off on game day, so it's probably significant if they can get him some limited reps in the final two weeks, especially if the team gets a bye.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

If he wears a cast why can he not play? His legs/back/head were not injured. It was a broken arm?

He played the Superbowl on one leg, a broken arm is sissy stuff to him! Really its not like its a hamstring or a ankle sprain, as long as the bone is healed, I don't he can re-injury it.

 

[PatsFan2]

I hope thats a joke an unhealthy Gronk as we have all seen is of NO use to us in the playoffs. We still have Hernandez...there is NO need to rush Gronk back.

 

[brdmaverick]

I don't want to see a repeat of Aaron Hernandez (come back for two games only to have to sit out the next two).

 

[CityOfChampions]

I don't think he'll be ready this week so we will save him for the last game if he's ready so he doesn't get rusty for the playoffs. Good to see he's back at practice though.

 

[BB4PRez]

practice this week and sit and/or limited play Sunday (maybe put him in the red zone offense package)

practice next week play 1/4 to 1/2 game against Jacks

practice folowing week play 1/2 to 3/4 game against Miami

Football conditioning, timing and playing skills do not come back at the flip of a switch, particulalry in the Pats offense. It would be a great to learn that Gronk practiced this week. I understand the desire to get him to 100% but he needs to be practicing to be prepared for the playoffs even if it is with a red no contact shirt to start.

 

[TyronePoole]

I think a guy like Gronk jumps back in no problem, he knows the position and so much of what he does is based on natural/physical ability anyway.

I also think that this is the type of injury that either you are 100% or you aren't (at the TE position), so if he's actually able to play he's playing fulltime. Sure players have played with casts before but Gronk can't really do anything he normally does with one and it's not worth the risk imo.

 

[Double TE]

If the cast is on his arm and not his hand then why can't he do what he normally does?

 

[CityOfChampions]

If the cast is on his arm and not his hand then why can't he do what he normally does?

even with a cast people will target his arm purposely esp the 49ers.

 

[Double TE]

They'll target his arm that has a hard and heavy cast on it? OK....

Its not an ankle or a knee its a bone and its protected by a heavy cast and does not need to be flexible? I am honestly confused here.

 

[TyronePoole]

who was the last blocking/receiving player to play with one? It's one thing for a DL or LBer where you more or less control the contact but the blocking motion and jumping up for passes and coming down and bracing etc. doesn't seem like it would work with a still broken forearm. Not to mention that don't those casts have a piece that runs around the thumb and across the palm?

I could be wrong but the idea of him playing his game with a cast seems like it's really pushing it.