Rob Gronkowski Returns To Practice After Knee Injury

In other injury news, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks missed practice on Thursday with a concussion and his status for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appears to be in doubt.

Gronkowski practiced Thursday for the first time since suffering a knee bruise November 29.

The Patriots had no surprises in store for Friday’s injury report before the team departs for Houston to play the Texans on Sunday Night Football, but did have a welcome sight in the return of Julian Edelman to practice. He is also not likely to participate in the Patriots next game but returning to practice is still great news for the Patriots, and they will take it.

“I’d like to be back as soon as I can, but doing it safely and then smart and just trying to improve each day”, he said.

Talking about being back on the field for the first time, the slot receiver said: “It was good to be out there with my teammates. put the cleats on and run around”.

Edelman and Rob Gronkowski were side-by-side during stretching Friday before practice, and even engaged in a spirited high-five.

“We’ve been working hard and we’ve got a good staff in here”, Edelman said.

The rest of the league isn’t going to be too insane about Tom Brady getting one of his weapons back on the field, but they’re going to have to get over it quickly.

“Oh, there goes my foot”.