Rob Gronkowski Facing Multiweek Absence

Rob Gronkowski won’t be getting a homecoming in New England after all. The veteran tight end is not traveling to New England and will not play against the Patriots tonight, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

This injury may be a bit more serious than originally believed. After X-rays came back revealing minimal damage, a subsequent MRI revealed Gronkowski suffered multiple cracked ribs against the Rams and could miss multiple games, Schefter tweets. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com originally reported that the MRI and CT scan showed two breaks (Twitter link), but it was later discovered that Gronkowski actually has four cracked ribs, one broken rib, and a punctured lung (Twitter link via Jay Glazer of FOX Sports).

Gronk suffered the injury during last weekend’s game against the Rams, and after not practicing all week, he was listed as doubtful to play. However, head coach Bruce Arians kept the door open, saying Gronkowski would be a game-time decision. Alas, the veteran tight end won’t be suiting up for tonight’s showdown.

Still, Gronkowski is not expected to land on IR, as Greg Auman of The Athletic writes. Under the modified injured reserve rules, a player on IR need only miss three games before being activated, and including tonight, the Bucs play three games in 11 days. While it seems likely that Gronk will miss next Sunday’s bout with the Dolphins, he could be ready to go for the following Thursday night contest against the Eagles. Otherwise, Auman posits, the club could have parked Gronkowski on IR and kept a roster spot open for 2020 draftee Khalil Davis, who was cut yesterday.

While much has been made of Tom Brady‘s return to Gillette Stadium, Gronkowski also put together a Hall of Fame career during his stint with the Patriots. In nine seasons with the team, Gronk earned three Super Bowl rings while hauling in 79 regular season touchdowns, the most in franchise history. The tight end caught on with Brady and the Bucs last season and proceeded to win another ring.

The 32-year-old was having a hot start to the 2021 campaign, collecting four touchdowns through the first three weeks. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, the team should be fine without their starter, as the team is still rostering O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate.