The
New England Patriots are optimistic doctors will clear
Rob Gronkowski to play this week and that the tight end will make his season debut Sunday against the
New Orleans Saints, according to league sources.
Gronkowski has missed the Patriots' first five games following a series of surgeries on his fractured forearm and ailing back.
ProFootballTalk.com had earlier reported that Gronkowski was expected to return this week.
Dr. James Andrews is serving as an independent physician and is charged with determining whether Gronkowski is cleared to play, a source told ESPN. Andrews is considered the most accomplished orthopedic surgeon in the world, but he didn't operate on Gronkowski.
If Gronkowski plays, it will validate the team's decision to keep him on the 53-man roster rather than placing him on the physically unable to perform list. If not, the Patriots will have wasted a roster spot because Gronkowski would have been eligible to return after missing six games if he had been placed on the PUP list.
Quarterback
Tom Brady depends heavily on Gronkowski, especially in the red zone. The Patriots (4-1) have gone from leading the NFL in touchdowns last season to ranking ahead of only the winless
Jacksonville Jaguars this season.
The Patriots are coming off their worst offensive performance of the Brady era, a 13-6 loss to the
Cincinnati Bengals in which they failed to score a touchdown, ending Brady's streak of games with at least one touchdown pass at 52.
http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...and-patriots-optimistic-rob-gronkowski-return