The back injury Rob Gronkowski suffered Sunday is worse than initially believed and the New England Patriots tight end is headed for surgery for a herniated disk.
Statement from Patriots and Gronkowski family pic.twitter.com/LE7DQLURZE
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) December 2, 2016
Listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets with a chest injury, Gronkowski walked off the field gingerly after the Patriots’ third drive at MetLife Stadium and did not return. He appeared to hit the ground hard while running after a pass from Tom Brady. Per the statement, Gronkowski suffered a pulmonary lung contusion against the Seahawks in Week 10 but was medically cleared to play last week against the Jets after missing just one game.
Although Gronkowski missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury, he had caught 25 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns, and led the NFL with a 21.6 yards-per-catch average.
With the hamstring injury and the pulmonary lung contusion, there are questions about the toll the game is taking with Gronk, who is in his seventh season. They’re wondering about it in Boston, where the Herald’s Karen Guregian points out there’s a feeling that his “shelf life” in the NFL may be nearing expiration.
While Gronkowski has inflicted his share of pain on opponents, his body has been on the receiving end of much abuse. His injury list is extensive. He’s had multiple back surgeries. He’s undergone ankle surgery. He broke his forearm and needed multiple surgeries to remedy that along with an infection that persisted for months. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament and had a major reconstruction. Name the injury or surgery, he’s probably had it.So if you add it all up with what’s happened lately, it hits you that while Gronkowski is incredibly special, we might not get to enjoy this gift much longer.
