APIt looks like Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will have a fourth surgery on his forearm next week, but that may not be the end of his trips to the operating room.
And we’re not talking about the possibility that he’ll need another surgery to deal with a lingering infection in his arm. Mike Garafolo of USA Today reports that Gronkowski recently had an MRI to check on a disc issue in his back that dates back to last season. Per Garafolo, back surgery is a possibility for the tight end.
Gronkowski is expected to see spine specialist Robert Watkins at some point in the near future, a meeting that will likely shed light on whether or not he needs to have surgery to address the problem. According to the report, the current disc issue is not related to a 2009 surgery that Gronkowski had to surgically shave down a disc. That injury wound up costing Gronkowski an entire season while he was at Arizona.
The Patriots obviously would like to avoid anything close to a repeat of that situation, so it’s good news that the expected recovery timeline for a back operation would be similar to the recovery timeline for his forearm. Barring any further complications with the infection, Gronkowski’s arm is expected to be healed in time for him to participate in training camp.
meh… good thing he’s not Diabetic.
This guy is done. Mr. G L A S S.
Jimmy Graham > Rob Gronkowski
I’m coach BB is thrilled.
The issue is people are going to tie this to his off the field or offseason fun, but it has nothing to do with it. He’s a big guy, but he’s awfully fragile.
I’m *sure coach BB is thrilled.
Back problems suck, I wouldn’t wish them on anyone.
The Gronk is falling apart!?
The only reason the Pats were able to draft him where they did was because he was considered injury prone and had a back issue his final year of college that didnt allow him to play.
Wow..dis guy is injury prone now dan shame.
I hope the Gronk doesn’t have his career cut short by injuries, because it’s not like there’s any other profession in the world that this caveman could fall back on.
And no, a reality show with Ryan Lochte doesn’t count.
Bibi Jones must of wore him out…
“Doctah said I needa backeotomy ! ”
-Sir Smoke A Lot
Half Baked
That’s too bad that he needs a 4th surgery, but if it’s a staph infection that’s very difficult to cure.
Despite the bad back and the bad arm, he is still gonna get his party on!!
Where the World is Wes Welker?
What kind of shape is Gronk going to be in when training camp starts? With a bad wing, and bum back, I can’t imagine that he’s been able to do much strength training this off-season.
Man, I hope he gets healthy so when the Dolphins take the division….. these CHOWDERHEADS can’t use the the injury excuse!!
This guy is more fragile than Bob Sanders.
back injury going back to last season? So are people still going to justify him bodyslamming his brother a few months back? Broken arm and lingering back problems and the guy is picking up full grown men and throwing them around….
NFL network just reported the back issue is considered “minor”
So no big deal he will be ready for training camp.
Not good news but it may not be a big deal. I want Gronk to take as much time as needed to come back fully healthy even if he starts on PUP.
We need a healthy Gronk for the stretch run.
This was his main/major concern coming out of college – injuries…specifically neck/back…I love Gronk but the guy is doomed…
his off season and off field issues may not be the reasons why.. but they sure as heck don’t help
How will he dance with a bad back?
dooooOOOOOOOOOMMMMMed
Now we see why the Patriots have so many tight ends
Why couldnt this happen to a 49er instead.
He’s already got a massive program of 12-ounce curls planned to help that arm get back into shape.
Really enjoying all these smart comments about how Gronk is obviously done.
It really makes you think that maybe the NFL should have some sort of time period where there isn’t any football being played that players could use to get necessary medical treatment and heal up. Something OFF of the schedule of the typical SEASON.
Yes, that’s it. Now if I heard about a guy like Gronk getting these procedures done during this so called “off-season” and knew he wasn’t missing any real football I probably wouldn’t be all that worried about it and I’d wait to see what happens when its time to get to work.
Nothing to do this with but……
On Deadpsin.com
And while it’s been widely reported that Young was arrested three times in a week, a fourth arrest has now been confirmed. A few hours before his DUI and first burglary arrests, Young allegedly tried twice to rob a gas station some 95 miles south in Laguna Hills. The Detroit Free Press says Young attempted to steal candy, cigars, and a bottle of water. His ex says that during those thefts Young was holding his son, whom he had taken without telling her.
Looks like he needs to sit for a season and get healthy. He’s still young, why risk his career?
in my head I picture him walking around with one of those little toy wooden cars on a string following him, except the toy car is an ambulance…
Another one of those good players that got paid & will be always hurt!!!
just an old WWE injury
Gronk is done
As long as he’s back by December who cares
Of course his back hurts… carrying around that ego would hurt anybody.
Gronk just broke his wrist doing a keg stand. Poor guy can’t catch a break…oh poor choice of words
Week 4 will roll around and there’ll be an announcement that some other injury, also dating to last season, will also need surgical attention. Not only does he appear to made of glass, he doesn’t even have his injuries promptly addressed medically.
So much for a “great” player, this guy will never be 100% again — likely not close to it. Let the Gronk Circus Continue.
I always back the Gronk, but man! Drink your Milk son!
hey man it’s that damn party you always on!! i know, must be great being an nfl star, dating pornstars and sh**, but he got to slow it down or it will end short!
Dunno where all the “Gronk is fragile” chatter is coming from. He’s been a stud on grass for years, and I’m no Pats fan to be sure.
Sounds like football injuries piling up. It happens.
Remember what an indestructible terminator Dante Culpepper seemed the first few years, until injuries started to trickle in..
There are hundreds of examples like that.
That’s unfortunate
Poor Gronk. I feel so sorry for you. Just party on dude ”\o/”
Gronks style of play was eventually going to catch up to him. It caught up to him in college. Even Hernandez start getting beat up last year. And now Amendola who is good for missing 6. . All the Pats fans saying who cares? As long as he is there for December. You Pats fans better hope the CHOWDER is still warm in December? Wait they still have Welker who always picked up the slack in these times of needs. Whoops! I forgot.
Sciatica is horrible