Tom Brady‘s return to New England has understandably overshadowed everything else about Week 4’s Sunday night game, but it also marks Rob Gronkowski‘s first matchup with the Patriots since being traded. But Brady’s wingman is not looking likely to suit up.

Gronkowski did not practice this week, and the Buccaneers listed the future Hall of Fame tight end as doubtful to face the Patriots. Bruce Arians is willing to play Gronk without him having practiced, however, calling him a game-time decision, via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine (on Twitter).

A rib injury sustained in Los Angeles represents Gronkowski’s first setback with the Bucs, though he obviously endured numerous injury issues with the Patriots.

Gronk’s first Bucs season featured the tight end bouncing back with a 20-game campaign. He caught two touchdowns in Super Bowl LV, collecting his fourth ring, and hauled in four TD passes from Brady through two games this year. Should the 32-year-old tight end not be able to go Sunday, it would be his 31st missed regular-season game as a pro. Gronkowski re-signed with the Bucs this offseason but has not committed to extending his unretirement beyond this season.

The Bucs are rather well-equipped to handle a Gronk absence, with the team hanging onto trade-rumor mainstay O.J. Howard and keeping Cameron Brate as well. Antonio Brown is also back to join Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as options for Brady in his Foxborough return.

Rob Gronkowski extended his unretirement to a second season, re-signing with the Buccaneers in March. The decorated tight end was one of several veterans to re-up with the defending Super Bowl champions, who are favored to return to the NFL’s biggest stage this season.

But Gronk is not guaranteeing anything beyond this year. The future Hall of Famer described his status as “year to year, 100%,” according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

Although Tom Brady is planning to return for his age-45 season in 2022, barring an unforeseen development, Gronkowski has previously shown the quarterback’s status does not necessarily pertain to his. Though, the legendary quarterback certainly has some say in how his favorite target proceeds. Gronk retired after the 2018 season, and the Patriots’ passing attack suffered. He unretired to rejoin Brady in Tampa last season. This partnership helped the Bucs snap their lengthy playoff drought and win Super Bowl LV, with Gronk catching two touchdown passes in that game.

The Bucs have both Gronkowski and O.J. Howard in contract years, with Cameron Brate still on the roster as well. The Bills showed interest in Gronk, but there did not appear to be much doubt about his return to the Bucs. The 31-year-old pass catcher signed a one-year, $8MM deal; the contract is fully guaranteed.

Rob Gronkowski wants to keep the party going. After capturing his first Super Bowl ring sans Bill Belichick, the tight end told reporters that he plans to continue playing in 2021. 

“Yeah, I’ll remain unretired,” Gronk said (via PFT). “I’m a free agent. It’s the first time in my career that I’m a free agent…But I definitely see myself coming back, just the guys around here, the players around here, the coaches, the people in the front office, they’re all just great people. I loved working with them all year long.”

“So, obviously going to soak this in and see where I’m at in a couple weeks, but I don’t see why not. I don’t see why I won’t be back.”

Gronk previously hinted at another season and reports indicated that he’d only suit up for Tom Brady & Co. Gronk, 32 in May, managed to shake off the rust in pewter, notching 45 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns. That stat line wasn’t as gaudy as his best seasons with the Patriots, but he showed up big in the Super Bowl, leading all receivers with six grabs for 67 yards and two TDs.

While Gronkowski needs a new contract, Cameron Brate‘s deal extends through 2023. That shouldn’t be much of a barrier, however. The Bucs can cut Brate to save $6.5MM against the cap with no dead money charge. The bigger numbers crunch will come from fellow free agents such as wide receiver Chris Godwin, outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, and inside linebacker Lavonte David.

Earlier this month, Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski said he wasn’t sure whether he would retire at season’s end. In an interview on the NFL Network today (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk), Gronkowski indicated he would be back on the playing field in 2021.

The 31-year-old will be eligible for free agency this offseason, but if he has it his way, he will return to Tampa. When asked if he was going to be back with Tom Brady and the Bucs next year, Gronk said, “Yeah, you got to.”

“I feel like this team was built to win right now,” he added. “I could definitely see this team having a lot of talent come back and having another successful run next year, as well, with me.”

Of course, the Bucs will also have a say in the matter. Brady will be under contract for another year and would doubtlessly like to see his favorite tight end return, but Tampa’s TE room could be crowded. Though O.J. Howard missed most of the season due to an Achilles tear, the team did exercise his fifth-year option for 2021, and since the option is guaranteed for injury, it seems as though the Bucs will have no choice but to keep Howard and his $6MM salary on the books.

Cameron Brate, meanwhile, is under contract through 2023, but the team could release him and save $6.5MM against the cap with no corresponding dead money charge. Assuming Gronkowski does decide to continue playing, the Bucs could part ways with Brate and re-sign Gronk. However, the team has plenty of other high-profile free agents to worry about, like WR Chris Godwin, OLB Shaquil Barrett and ILB Lavonte David. So Gronkowski probably can’t bank on the same $9MM salary he earned this season.

That probably doesn’t matter too much to him, as he was perfectly content to walk away from that salary completely when he announced his retirement in 2019. He returned only when he saw the opportunity to reunite with Brady in sunny Tampa, and he showed he still has some gas in the tank, catching 45 passes for 623 yards and seven scores in 16 regular season games. Pro Football Focus was not as high on his blocking prowess as it has been in years past, but he was certainly passable in that regard.

The moral of the story is that Gronkowski and the Bucs look like a good bet to continue their partnership for one more season, regardless of what happens in their divisional round bout with the Saints this evening.

Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski says he isn’t sure if he’ll return for another year of football (Twitter link via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). With that in mind, the Bucs’ upcoming game against the Washington Football Team could be his last.

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“It’s just the start of playoffs right now. There’s always a time for that,” Gronkowski said.

Gronk plans to make the call roughly one month after the season ends. His first retirement came in the spring of 2019, citing physical pain and a lack of motivation. In his return to Tampa Bay, Gronk seems to have healed on both fronts. The 31-year-old has played in every game for the Bucs, catching 45 passes for 623 yards and seven scores. Those numbers aren’t as gaudy as his Pro Bowl years with the Patriots, but it’s clear that he still has plenty left in the tank.

It stands to reason that Gronk will want to continue playing alongside Tom Brady, but he won’t be bound to the Bucs either. The future Hall of Famer will be an unrestricted free agent in March, allowing him to play anywhere he wants — if he plays at all.