UPDATE (5:15 p.m.): Rob Gronkowski will not return to the game, the Patriots announced during the fourth quarter.
Rob Gronkowski (head) has been downgraded to out. #JAXvsNE
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 21, 2018
UPDATE (4:40 p.m.): The Patriots announced that Rob Gronkowski is questionable to return with a head injury.
ORIGINAL STORY: FOXBORO, Mass. — Things went from bad to worse for the New England Patriots in the first half of the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots were trailing 14-3 with less than two minutes to play in the first half when Tom Brady threw a pass up the seam intended for Rob Gronkowski. The star tight end stretched out for the ball and was pummeled by Jaguars safety Barry Church.
Rob Gronkowski might be done for the day. pic.twitter.com/4JuME20D2e
— JAiHAWKFLY℠ (@JAiHAWKFLY) January 21, 2018
I feel terrible for Rob Gronkowski but his balance problems were some of the clearest #concussion signs you will ever see. He is done for the day, unless the Patriots and #NFL only want to talk about the concussion protocol for the next week. Here is the hit: pic.twitter.com/vAVir1ptyX
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) January 21, 2018
Church was whistled for unnecessary roughness on the play, but the real damage was to Gronkowski, who was wobbly when he got up and was taken to the locker room immediately.
The Patriots scored on a 1-yard James White touchdown to make it 14-10 at halftime.
