UPDATE (9:20 p.m. ET): The New England Patriots officially announced tight end Rob Gronkowski, tackle Nate Solder and guard Jonathan Cooper will not play Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals.
UPDATE (9:09 p.m. ET): New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski did not travel with the team to Arizona and will not play Sunday night against the Cardinals, according to reports from CSNNE.com’s Tom E. Curran and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Curran also reported offensive linemen Nate Solder and Jonathan Cooper did not make the trip, either, confirming an earlier report from Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal.
UPDATE (6:05 p.m. ET): Rob Gronkowski is not expected to play Sunday in the Patriots’ season opener against the Cardinals, a source told NFL Media’s Courtney Fallon.
ORIGINAL STORY: Tight end Rob Gronkowski and offensive linemen Nate Solder and Jonathan Cooper didn’t travel to Arizona with the rest of their Patriots teammates for New England’s season opener against the Cardinals, the Providence Journal’s Mark Daniels reported Friday.
That doesn’t necessarily rule them out for Sunday night’s game. All three players were listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report and still could travel to Arizona on Saturday after an additional day of treatment.
Gronkowski and Solder are dealing with hamstring injuries, while Cooper has a foot ailment. All three players are projected offensive starters.
If Gronkowski doesn’t play, Martellus Bennett would start and AJ Derby and Clay Harbor would see extended reps. If Solder doesn’t play, Marcus Cannon would take one offensive tackle spot, while Cameron Fleming or LaAdrian Waddle would start in the other. If Cooper can’t go, Joe Thuney would start at left guard with either Shaq Mason, who has a hand injury, or rookie Ted Karras at right guard.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
