New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has re-broken his forearm, an injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the NFL playoffs.
Gronkowski led the Patriots with 11 touchdown catches this season.
The injury to Gronkowski appeared to occur while he was making a catch in the first quarter of his teams 41-28 victory.
Gronkowski returned to the team’s sideline in the second quarter but was later witnessed leaving the locker room with a sling around his left arm.
Speaking after his teammate exited the season, Logan Mankins told reporters:
“It’s always a tough break. Everyone on the team loves Rob. Loves him as a person, player. It’s a tough break for him, and it’s always a tough break for our team, but whoever gets put in that spot, they have to do that job. We’re all counting on him.”
Gronkowski broke the same arm on November 18 against the Indianapolis Colts, missing five games before competing in his teams season finale against the Miami Dolphins.
After the game, head coach Bill Belichick said he didn’t regret allowing Gronkowski to play since he followed the medical decisions of team doctors.
The Patriots also witnessed injury’s to running back Danny Woodhead (thumb injury) and rookie defense end Chandler Jones (ankle). The status of both players is not known at this time.
Talking further about the loss of Gronkowski and Woodhead, quarterback Tom Brady revealed:
“We had a whole plan built for (Gronkowski) and Woody. We run the first series of the game and all those plans change. I think a little of it was, ‘What are we going to do now? How are we going to adjust?’ But we seemed to settle in there midway through the first quarter and put together a pretty good game.
“Obviously it’s a bummer to lose anybody, but someone of Rob’s importance or Danny’s importance, we need guys to step in and fill the void, whether it’s this game or any game after.”
Are the New England Patriots in trouble with Rob Gronkowski out for the remainder of the playoffs?