Rob Gronkowski ‘Feeling Decent,’ but Uncertain of Week 3 Status
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski continues to nurse his injured hamstring and remains unsure about Thursday’s game against the Houston Texans.
While much attention is on the injured shoulder of Jimmy Garoppolo, the status of Rob Gronkowski has slipped under the radar. On Tuesday, the New England Patriots tight end was limited in practice due to his injured hamstring, but did give an update on his condition.
“I’m feeling decent,” Gronkowski told the media following following practice. “We’ll see. Definitely going to be a coach’s decision, trainer’s decision. We’ll all come together. But I’m just doing everything I can right now to be as healthy as I can be. I’m improving every single day, and basically just day by day right now. Taking it one day at a time.”
As the Patriots prepare to host the 2-0 Texans, having the Pro-Bowl tight end back on the field would be much welcomed. His presence would also make life easier for rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is preparing to make his first career NFL start.
In Gronkowski’s absence, the team has gone 2-0 and haven’t seemed to miss the big tight end as much as they have in previous seasons. One reason is a nice trio of wide receivers in Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan. Another reason is that the team has another pass-catching tight end in Martellus Bennett. Those factors make Gronkowski’s return (whenever he returns) an exciting addition to the offense.
Is Rob Gronkowski ready to return mentally?
More from New England Patriots
- Former Patriot Stevan Ridley Put Kevin Hart in a Wheelchair
- 3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game
- Patriots Get Win Over Division Rivals Before Season Even Begins
- New Massachusetts Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Bet on Your Patriots at Caesars + DraftKings
- Ezekiel Elliott Reveals 3 Reasons Why He Signed With Patriots
Whether Rob Gronkowski plays Thursday or not, it seems apparent that he is more than ready mentally to return to the field. On Tuesday, Gronkowski took the field in full pads when the practice was a shorts-and-T-shirts walk-through. He admitted that it wasn’t a mistake and that he just wanted to get accustomed to having full pads on.
“I haven’t been in full pads in a while, so I kind of felt like I wanted to get used to it,” he explained. “Full pads is different. It weighs more than having nothing on. It’s part of the training process. But obviously, I wasn’t allowed to wear them, so I just had to take them off. So really, no big deal. I just like the feel. You want to get the feel of your shoulder pads when you haven’t been in them that much.”
Sounds like a player itching to get back on the field and into the action.
Next: Cookie Betts Joins Exclusive Club as Red Sox Win Sixth Straight
Keep it locked here at Chowder and Champions for more coverage of Rob Gronkowski and the New England Patriots.