New England Patriots tight end Rob Grokowski was a scratch from the team’s flight to Chicago, according to the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride, and while the team has yet to officially rule him out of action, it’s looking like Week 7 will not feature Gronkowski.
Dealing with an ankle/back injury that made him a limited participant Wednesday through Friday this past week, it appears that the Patriots are looking to sit the 29-year-old tight end out on Sunday with the hope that he’ll be officially ready to go for Week 8 when the Patriots are back in primetime and against a divisional opponent.
Patriots’ TE Rob Gronkowski, who is not expected to play Sunday vs. Bears, is expected back next week at Buffalo on Monday Night Football, per source. The Patriots are playing it safe by resting him Sunday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2018
Gronkowki has hauled in 26 of his 35 targets this season for 405 yards and one touchdown. The 6-foot-6 tight end caught three passes for 97 yards, including one 42-yard reception, in last Sunday’s 43-40 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
With Gronkowski likely out, Jacob Hollister and Dwayne Allen will be Tom Brady’s options at tight end. Hollister has three catches for 35 yards this season, while Allen has been targeted just twice, and has one reception that went four yards backwards.