Patriots Report: Rob Gronkowski Mysteriously Absent From Practice Friday
Update: Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski missed practice as a result of an illness and is listed questionable for Sunday’s game.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was absent from practice Friday one day after he said he was close to 100 percent.
What’s going on with Rob Gronkowski? That’s the question surfacing around Gillette Stadium Friday. According to multiple reports, the New England Patriots tight end was not seen at practice which is concerning considering the team is just two days from their Week 6 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Gronkowski’s absence, however, does not mean there was a setback with his hamstring injury. He could’ve been excused for personal reasons. Following Thursday’s media session, it is more likely that his absence is not injury related since he said he was closer to full strength.
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The big tight end showed his progress in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. He caught five passes for 109 yards in the team’s 33-13 victory in Cleveland.
Two-head monster: Speaking of Rob Gronkowski, when healthy, he along with Martellus Bennett presents quite a challenge for opposing defenses. Last week, Bennett exploded for three touchdown passes from Tom Brady. Prior to that, he was clearly the team’s best tight end with Gronkowski limited due to the hamstring injury.
Now that Gronk is almost back (hopefully), opposing defenses have to figure out how to defend the dynamic duo. Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis knows he has his hands full with the two tight ends.
"“Both players are good line-of-scrimmage players and good receivers,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said via ESPN. “They have been accomplished as receivers in the league. Martellus has new life, and you can see it in how he’s playing. You like that about him. Gronkowski is obviously an exceptional football player.”"
What’s scary for the league is not only the matchup problems the two present on the field, but how the two personalities are getting along off the field. On Thursday, both players shared their first impressions of one another. Both admired each other’s size (body wise) and how alike they are. Bennett offered the following:
"“We were in a gym and he was like ‘Is that all sweat? I thought I was the only other guy to sweat like that?’ And I was like, ‘You’re not the only other tight end who’s working, bro.’ But same thing, I saw him and was like, ‘Man, this kid is huge! He’s just like me.’ It was just funny, we hit it off from that day and told jokes and laughed.”"
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