UPDATE (6:30 p.m. ET): Rob Gronkowski has played his final snap of the 2016 season.
The New England Patriots announced Saturday that they have placed the tight end on injured reserve and signed running back D.J. Foster, who was on the practice squad, to the active roster.
ORIGINAL STORY: Rob Gronkowski’s 2016 season reportedly is over.
The New England Patriots placed Gronkowski on injured reserve Saturday, a league source told ESPN’s Field Yates. That means the Patriots tight end won’t play again this season, even if New England reaches the Super Bowl.
Each NFL team can place one player on short-term injured reserve/designated to return, but the Patriots used that slot on rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who came back off the IR last week after recovering from a thumb injury.
For Gronkowski, the news marks another promising campaign cut short by injury. The 27-year-old tallied 540 receiving yards on 25 receptions with three touchdowns this season but played in just eight of the team’s 11 games. He exited New England’s Week 12 win over the New York Jets with a back injury and underwent surgery Friday.
The Patriots also re-signed running back D.J. Foster to the active roster, per Yates.
Click to watch Gronk’s message to fans after back surgery >>
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
