It doesn’t appear as though the Patriots will have their key weapon on offense back against the Texans on Sunday Night Football this weekend.
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New England’s All-Word tight end returned to practice Thursday, wearing a brace on his right knee. He had injured the knee in the fourth quarter of the November 29 game against Denver, and two days later, the club and Gronkowski’s family released a joint statement on his status. Obviously, they’ll have to measure how his knee responds to this workout before figuring out tomorrow’s workload and so forth.
Rob Gronkowski returned to practice after missing four consecutive sessions.
Even if Gronk is not expected to play against the Texans and this high-five-heavy return is just for show, his presence on the practice field ought to force Bill O’Brien’s defense to prepare for him. He has been bothered by the injury for a couple weeks. He did not play in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.
Gronkowski is second on the Patriots with 57 receptions, trailing only Julian Edelman, who has missed the last three-plus games with a broken foot.
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Cornerback Rashaan Melvin took fellow defensive back Chris Greenwood’s spot on the practice squad.
