Rob Gronkowski should return for start of regular season
ProFootballTalk
Albert Breer of NFL Network and Ben Volin and Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe all report that Gronkowski is scheduled to have surgery to repair the torn ACL and MCL in his right knee in about two weeks. That will be about a month after Browns safety T.J. Ward’s tackle ended his season, a delay caused by the need to wait for swelling to go down.
That's right. Gronk will be going under the knife once again. This of course after he had surgery on his arm during the regular season last year, then on it again in the offseason, then on it again a few more times in the off-season, and then had his back cut open just for good measure.
Gronk finally got healthy enough to play in time for Week 7 game against the Jets, and was finally starting to dominate the league again when a low hit by Browns safety T.J. Ward tore his ACL and MCL.
This time, however, Gronk might actually be back by Week 1 of the 2014 season.
Breer also reports that Gronkowski is expected to be ready for the start of the 2014 season, although last year’s experience with surgeries and subsequent infections is a reminder that there’s a long way to go before that becomes a reality.
That report is encouraging, but I wouldn't place any bets on it. Complications always happen, as we saw with Gronk this off-season. Also, that would be a pretty phenomenal recovery time, seeing as most athletes miss up to a full year with ACL tears. (Rajon Rondo for instance is nearly a year removed from his ACL tear and has yet to return)
Gronk's surgery will be performed by famed surgeon Dr. James Andrew, an expert in ACL tears obviously. Still, the Gronk camp will want to be ultra careful with their star so they can keep doing stuff like this.
