Patriots Gronkowski to have back surgery

Per source, initial indication on the back injury of TE Rob Gronkowski is that it is not serious.

Gronkowski is scheduled to undergo back surgery Friday in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports. That could be a huge blow to the Patriots when it comes to that game and especially being as the Ravens defense has played extremely well so far this season.

He’s also dealt with hamstring issues and a punctured lung this year.

Update: The Patriots are unable to use the designated-to-return tag on Rob Gronkowski, as it is already being used on rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Injuries have always been an issue for the seventh-year veteran. Gronkowski has also had one ankle surgery, four forearm surgeries and a knee surgery to fix his ACL and MCL.

Prior to missing Week 11 against the 49ers, Gronkowski led New England with 540 receiving yards and he still does lead the league with an average of 21.6 yards per reception.

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as the interim head coach against the Cowboys, a decision that Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said would be the least disruptive to the team.

It’s possible that it came as a result of a hit from All-Pro safety Earl Thomas that Gronkowski described as one of the hardest hits he’d taken in his career. He received medical clearance to return to play two weeks later for the New York Jets game on November 27. The surgery will be the third on his back since college. At least for those injuries, there was a return date in sight, and he rewarded fantasy owners with four straight weeks of huge production from October 9 through October 30. Rob is expected to have surgery tomorrow. And that they, just like we, look forward to his return to the field. We hope you’ll help.