It should have been clear based on their transactions this weekend that the Patriots felt tight end Rob Gronkowski would be back sooner rather than later.
The emphasis on sooner.
According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Gronkowski was back on the field in full uniform for practice Sunday.
That’s a quicker recovery than many expected from back surgery, though it remains to be seen how much he’s actually doing or will be able to do this week. Reporters see a small portion of individual drills and stretching, so it’s impossible to know if he’ll be able to play this week.