FOXBORO, Mass. — Rob Gronkowski had to pass up parties for rehab this summer.
The New England Patriots tight end still managed to generate some headlines for his partying ways during the offseason, but Gronkowski described his time off as “boring” as he recovered from a torn right ACL.
“Yeah, it was boring this year,” Gronkowski said Friday at Gillette Stadium after training camp. “I was rehabbing every day, it was miserable. Hopefully that never happens again. I don’t wish nothing on anyone like I had the last few years.”
Gronkowski said his knee still isn’t 100 percent, despite his presence on the practice field Thursday and Friday. Gronkowski has been limited in his first two training camp practices.
“If I was 100 percent, I would be doing every single thing,” Gronkowski said. “No. I’m not 100 percent. Obviously not. I’m working my way to get to that.”
Gronkowski wouldn’t say that he’ll be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, but that appears to be his goal. Gronkowski first will have to be cleared to participate in team drills, then full contact.
“I’m preparing myself to my max ability right now for the first regular game,” Gronkowski said. “I really can’t say anything from here on out because it’s far away.”
The tight end is just happy to be on a football field again. He dealt with forearm and back injuries last summer, and he tore his right ACL in the Patriots’ 27-26 Week 14 victory over the Cleveland Browns last season.
“Being in the huddle, catching balls from Tom Brady, it’s a dream come true again,” Gronkowski said. “It feels like it got taken away, and now I feel like I got it back, so it’s awesome.”
Gronkowski can prove he’s not injury prone this season after missing 14 games in his past two years. Gronkowski didn’t miss a game in his first two years in the NFL.
