Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England reports that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is expected to return from his fractured left forearm in Week Seventeen against the Dolphins. Per Curran, Gronkowski will be “suited up” and available for “at least a limited role,” likely in a playoff-tuneup capacity.
Gronkowski has been out since Week Eleven, when he fractured the arm blocking on special teams in the fourth quarter of a 59-24 blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots have scored at least 34 points in three of the ensuing five games, but Gronkowski is their best skill-position player aside from quarterback Tom Brady and will give an already lethal offense a major postseason boost.
Gronkowski has been particularly dominant as a run blocker when healthy this season. Still just 23 years old, he is the premier tight end in all of football.