Rob Gronkowski doesn’t travel with Patriots to Arizona, per reports

The Patriots squad is (extremely) short-handed – with their superstar quarterback on a 4-game suspension – and now their star tight end is out for the first game as well. Well, there may be a problem because Gronk’s banged up hamstring may keep him off the field on Sunday night. Initially the injury wasn’t seen as a major issue, despite the fact that the 27-year-old tight end didn’t play in a single preseason game.

“No, I’m not (100 percent)”, said Gronkowski, who has missed 15 games due to injury in his career.

That much openness with reporters about an injury is standard in the league at large, but rare under Coach Bill Belichick’s tight-lipped reign.

Gronkowski was smiling and said he feels good, so it’s possible this could be the Patriots’ way of trying to throw a curveball at the Arizona Cardinals.

Gronkowski, offensive tackle Nate Solder, and guard Jonathan Cooper did not travel with their teammates to Arizona Friday, according to Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal. While the seven-year pro has already hauled in 65 touchdowns for the Patriots in his 80 NFL games, injuries have always been a concern for Gronk ever since he played college football in Arizona.