Rob Gronkowski Fantasy News

Rob Gronkowski could be back by end of preseason
Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 9:40pm

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent surgery on his back Tuesday to correct a spinal issue and will soon begin rehab in the hope of returning to action in late August, a person informed of the prognosis told USA TODAY Sports.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Patriots don't divulge injury information publicly, said the optimistic view is that Gronkowski will be back to work just before the end of the preseason.

Rob Gronkowski to have surgery on Tuesday
Friday, June 14, 2013, 10:44pm

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to undergo back surgery in LA on Tuesday, per sources.

Rob Gronkowski "likely" to miss games, per the Boston Herald
Monday, June 10, 2013, 2:02pm

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski still is wearing a protective sleeve on his left arm, a remnant from a fourth surgery that was needed to replace a plate to heal a broken bone. He is also getting ready for a back procedure that will likely force him to miss regular-season games.

Friday, June 7, 2013, 11:45am

ESPN Boston' Mike Reiss on Patriots WR Aaron Dobson: "I was thinking of an outside receiver who isn't necessarily a top-end speed burner but who has good size, runs well enough, and competes with success for 50-50 type balls. Cowboys wideout Miles Austin (6-2, 217) is one target who came to mind when thinking of a good potential comparable to Dobson (6-3, 210)."

Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 11:32am

Saints TE Jimmy Graham was the most impressive player on the field during Tuesday's minicamp practice, leaping up for an outstanding one-handed touchdown grab at one point. He also caught a strike through traffic up the middle during team drills, among other plays.

Graham is obviously coming along well after having wrist surgery at the end of last season.

Gronk's agent calls back surgery "minor"
Friday, May 31, 2013, 11:43am

It’s alarming, to say the least, to know that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski needs back surgery after a quartet of arm procedures.

His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, downplayed the gravity of the situation on WQAM radio in Miami earlier today.

“This is a lingering problem that Rob’s had for a while that’s he’s been playing with, actually through all of last season,” Rosenhaus told Joe Rose of WQAM. “The recovery will be very comparable to the amount of time he’ll miss with the arm surgery. So why not get it down and make sure when he is healthy he’s 100 percent and doesn’t have to address the back down the road?”

“This is a new injury and it’s minor, it’s not as significant [as the prior back injury],” Rosenhaus said. “I don’t think it’s a big deal, I think it’s more preventive maintenance than anything else. It’s something that, although he needs it, he’s had it for a while and he’s been able to function.”

Rob Gronkowski's back injury not related to college injury
Thursday, May 30, 2013, 10:10am

Patriots Rob Gronkowski recently underwent an MRI to check on a disk issue from last season, according to ESPN and media reports. The disk injury is not related to the same one that required a procedure in 2009, according to a source.

Thursday, May 30, 2013, 9:56am

Jake Ballard isn’t quite the player Rob Gronkowski is, but he had a solid season for New York in 2011, with 38 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns. He started in Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots, but suffered the left knee injury in the second half of the game.

New England’s OTAs are Ballard’s first on-field reps in 16 months.

Even without pads and with some limitations, he’s happy to be back.

“They’re not having me go full-go the whole practice. It’s not like they’re turning me to the wolves,” Ballard said. “I talked with the trainer and the coaches and they all tell me what I’m limited to do and what they think I’m going to be able to do. We just gradually improve from there every week and day to day.”

Rob Gronkowski's back surgery scheduled for mid-June
Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 4:42pm

Rob Gronkowski is set to return to the operating table, but it doesn't involve his troublesome forearm.

NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Wednesday that the New England Patriots tight end will need back surgery, according to a source briefed on his status. Surgery tentatively is set for mid-June and will be performed by Dr. Robert Watkins, according to Breer.

It's expected that Gronkowski will miss at least part of Patriots training camp.

The possibility of back surgery previously was known, though the team had held out hope it could be avoided. Gronkowski has had back issues going back to his days at Arizona. He underwent a previous back surgery in Sept. 2009, which also was performed by Dr. Watkins.

Rob Gronkowski's infection has cleared up
Monday, May 20, 2013, 7:12pm

Rob Gronkowski came out of surgery Monday with good news for the New England Patriots.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the star tight end had new plates put into his troublesome left forearm, and doctors have determined the infection in the arm is gone, according to a source. No further surgery is planned at this time.

The team now can turn its primary focus to Gronkowski's other issue -- chronic back pain. Gronkowski recently underwent an MRI to determine the severity of the injury and will see spine specialist Robert Watkins in three to four weeks in California for a consultation, NFL.com's Albert Breer reported.

The Patriots hope Gronkowski's back issue can be treated without surgery and the rehab process can be concurrent with the forearm. Gronk isn't in the clear by any stretch, but Monday was a positive development in the Patriots' hope that they have their star on the field by Week 1.

Monday, May 20, 2013, 10:05am

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will have a fourth procedure performed on his left forearm on Monday at 2 p.m. at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The date was somewhat up in the air, but come tomorrow Gronk will have some definitive answers about whether he’s finally free and clear from an infection that’s dogged him for months.

Monday, May 20, 2013, 9:55am

Considering what a transcendent talent Patriots QB Tom Brady is, the career he's had, and that he turns 36 in 11 weeks, this statement he made to me over the weekend is significant: "Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football. I've never felt better throwing the football."

"Over the years, I was a little inefficient and I learned how to get away with it. I've been working with Tom House on what's called ground-force production ... Kinetic sequencing, getting the power from the ground, which translates from the ground to your legs, to your hips, to the shoulder, and all the energy is going toward the target. I've always had confidence throwing the football, but you have to stay on top of it. That's going to be a never-ending quest for me."

Rob Gronkowski to have fourth surgery soon
Thursday, May 16, 2013, 10:47pm

Rob Gronkowski is heading back to the operating table.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday on "NFL Total Access" that the New England Patriots tight end's fourth arm surgery is imminent, according to two sources informed of Gronkowski's prognosis. Doctors will examine Gronkowski's forearm Monday to see if the infection in it has persisted.

Gronkowski had X-rays taken Wednesday as a precursor to surgery, and NFL.com's Albert Breer reported that Dr. Jesse Jupiter, one of America's top fracture surgeons, is set to perform the operation next week at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews was consulted in the case.

The Patriots expect Gronkowski to be ready for training camp, but they won't have a true idea on his timetable until the plate in his arm is replaced.

If the infection has cleared -- Gronkowski has been on antibiotics -- no more surgeries likely will be needed. If not, Rapoport reports there almost certainly will be a fifth surgery that would make it unlikely he'd be ready for training camp in July.

Rob Gronkowski to have 4th surgery, 5th possible
Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 11:13am

According to a source familiar with the case, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is going to need a fourth operation to change the plate that’s securing the broken bone in the forearm.

While there has been some suggestion recently that this step might be avoided, the source indicated the fourth operation still has to happen. The plate has to be switched, no matter what, and the surrounding tissue tested. The real question is if Gronkowski, who has been taking part in the team’s offseason program, will need a fifth operation.

If tests show the infection has been completely flushed out, the plate will be replaced, and the recovery process begins. If there are still signs of infection, that won’t happen.

That’s a scenario no one wants to contemplate. Ultimately, Gronkowski would need more surgery and his participation for the start of the season and perhaps beyond would be in jeopardy.

Rob Gronkowski "looking great"
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 7:03pm

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is still a couple of weeks away from having a definitive answer as to whether he will need a fourth surgery on his left forearm, according to sources. The last month has been more of a “wait-and-see” period, with Gronkowski essentially buying more time for doctors to determine if the infection has cleared. Gronkowski has been working in the Patriots’ offseason program, and for what it’s worth, one opinion from someone who has seen him is that he “looks great.” A month ago, surgery was seen as “very likely” but there has always remained a chance that it could be avoided. At this point, there have been no unexpected setbacks; however, as Gronkowski has already learned, things can always change quickly.