| Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski hopes to return Sunday against the Dolphins. (US Presswire) |
The New England Patriots want Rob Gronkowski on the field. Now it’s just a matter of getting the metal rod in his forearm to go along with that plan.
The Patriots tight end returned to practice Dec. 14, a little more than three weeks removed from a broken forearm suffered in Week 11 while blocking during an extra-point attempt against the Indianapolis Colts, but it’s yet to be determined if he will play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
Coach Bill Belichick noted that Gronkowski did more in practice than he did the week before, and it is expected that he will continue to make progress over the next three days. Belichick, however, added that Gronkowski “Is not ready yet” and would miss his sixth game if a decision had to be made Wednesday.
Ideally, the team would like to get Gronkowski on the field to become reacquainted with the speed of the game before the playoffs, but that decision is not up to the coaching staff.
“Those are decision that are made medically. If the players are ready to play, then we play them,” Belichick said. “If they’re not, then we don’t. It’s the same for every player. We treat them all the same. (There is) nothing more important that the player’s health and safety. When they’re cleared to play, then they play. If they’re not cleared to play, there’s no decision to make. I don’t think that’s a decision that the coach makes or influences.”
Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPats or @nick_underhill.