The big injury question heading into next Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup between New England and the New York Giants revolves around the ankle of Patriots record-setting tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Gronkowski’s foot twisted in an awkward position when he was tackled after a 23-yard reception with 19 seconds left in the third quarter in Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Ravens. Gronkowski got up, limping badly, and was immediately taken to the locker room where he said he got his ankle retaped. The crowd at Gillette Stadium was on their feet when he returned during the same Patriots drive, and he was inserted back into the lineup nine snaps later.
When asked what happened, he replied with one word — “nothing.”
“It’s all good. Just watch the replay and whatever you see, you see. But I’m all good and I’ll be ready,” said Gronkowski, who has two weeks to heal up. “I’ll take it day-by-day and everything and obviously try to get on the field as fast as possible.”
Gronkowski described his ankle as “fine” in the locker room after the game, but he didn’t go into detail. In fact, the precise injury is not clear. But it is clear Gronk will play. Gronkowski wore a walking boot following the game, and had tests done immediately afterward. He had five catches for 87 yards against the Ravens, but none after the injury. For the season, Gronkowski had 90 catches for 1,327 yards with 17 TDs in the best season for a tight end in NFL history.
In just his second season, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski broke Kellen Winslow’s 31-year-old record for yards receiving by a tight end. His 18 touchdowns were five more than the previous high for his position. He led the AFC in scoring among nonkickers, becoming the first tight end to do so, and had seven games with two or more touchdowns, an NFL best for tight ends. He scored three times against Denver in the divisional round win.
The Patriots advanced to their seventh Super Bowl. Only Dallas and Pittsburgh have been to more — eight each. New England is 3-3 in Super Bowls.
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