It’s still unclear when Rob Gronkowski will be back on the field following offseason forearm and back surgeries, but his quarterback says the Patriots hold no resentment toward their star tight end.
Tom Brady told Westwood One Radio on Monday night that reports of Gronkowski’s teammates being frustrated with the tight end are untrue. Many surmised Brady was among those players impatient with Gronkowski’s slow recovery.
Gronkowski has missed the beginning of the season. He is awaiting clearance from Dr. James Andrews before he takes the field.
“I don’t think there’s any resentment toward Rob or any other player on our team that is fighting through rehabilitation to get back on the field,” Brady said. “Look, everyone loves having Rob out on the field but we also understand that these medical decisions are out of the hands of the players and coaches. And if the doctors, when they clear them, they clear them, and when they don’t, they don’t. That goes for every player in the NFL. It’s not just our team, it’s every team.
“So we’ll be excited to get him back. When that is, I don’t have the answer, but I prepare each week regardless of who’s out there. You got to go with the guys that are healthy and the guys who are ready to play. And look, we’ve had plenty of guys contribute to get to 5-1 at this point. So I have a lot of confidence in the guys I’m out there with and whenever Rob comes back, whenever that is and he’s cleared, the team will be excited to have him back.”
Gronkowski has reportedly shined during practice. He helped the Patriots prepare for Jimmy Graham by impersonating him on the scout team. Gronkowski could be held out one more week “at the most,” according to Pro Football Talk.
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