Gronk makes rare start
First preseason game since ’12 for tight end
HOUSTON — The Gronk rules are out.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski played in a preseason game last night for the first time in five years, which was even more surprising because the word this week was that he’d remain out of the lineup.
“We expect to play every game, 60 minutes every game,” Gronkowski said after his first preseason snaps since 2012. “It felt good to be out there, get my feet wet, however many plays or whatever. It was great.”
Tom Brady and many healthy starters made their preseason debuts last night after virtually every prominent veteran was sidelined for the opener against the Jaguars. So it appeared the Pats wanted Gronkowski to get up to game speed with the starting group.
Gronkowski wasn’t targeted during his two series, but he did play a prominent role as a blocker.
“It was great,” Brady said. “For all of us to get out there and play, it’s something you can’t replicate in practice . ... For him to get out there and be out there all of training camp, he is building so much confidence. I’m proud of him.”
Gronkowski was recovering from a broken forearm and back surgery during the 2013 summer and a torn ACL during the 2014 preseason, but he has been a healthy scratch for the most part since 2015. He did deal with a nagging hamstring issue last summer.
Gronkowski has been a full participant throughout training camp and hasn’t shown any ill effects from his December back surgery. But he has missed 30 regular-season and playoff games since 2012 and has shown that he can perform without taking any preseason snaps, which led to the Patriots’ annual decision to keep him off the field until the games were a bit more meaningful.
That philosophy changed last night.
“It just felt good to be back out there with the boys, for sure,” he said.
Jimmy takes blame
Jimmy Garoppolo wanted the blame for his lost fumble in the third quarter.
Linebacker Tony Washington raced unblocked around the front side of the line and drilled the quarterback as he was about to throw. Garoppolo never saw Washington coming.
“The O-line did a great job for me tonight,” Garoppolo said. “The sack-fumble was my fault. I can’t have that happen.”
It’s possible tight end James O’Shaughnessy was supposed to chip Washington before getting into his route, which would make sense because Garoppolo never looked to his right to see the free blitzer. Or maybe Garoppolo seized the blame because he didn’t call a protection to order O’Shaughnessy.
“I’m the quarterback,” he said. “That’s my fault.”
Tough ribbing
Linebacker Elandon Roberts suffered a rib injury in the third quarter.
Roberts collided with linebacker Jonathan Freeny while trying to bring down running back D’Onta Foreman during a 63-yard catch. Roberts was in severe pain while clutching his right rib cage on the ground and again on the bench before he was carted to the locker room.
Roberts appeared to be the Patriots’ only major injury. Wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (right knee) and defensive tackle Vincent Valentine (left ankle) both were shaken up but finished the game.
O’Shaughnessy rolled into Mitchell’s leg in the second quarter. The receiver did not miss a snap.
Trainer’s room
The Patriots suited up without 14 players: defensive end Derek Rivers (torn ACL), tackle LaAdrian Waddle (concussion), defensive lineman Deatrich Wise (concussion), special teamer Matthew Slater (hamstring), running back Mike Gillislee (hamstring), safety Brandon King (undisclosed injury), linebacker Dont’a Hightower (PUP), linebacker Shea McClellin (undisclosed injury), tackle Tony Garcia (undisclosed injury), offensive lineman Andrew Jelks (NFI), left tackle Nate Solder (undisclosed injury), tight end Matt Lengel (undisclosed injury), LeShun Daniels (undisclosed injury) and Geneo Grissom (undisclosed).
Defensive lineman Keionta Davis, who signed last week and hasn’t debuted at practice, also wasn’t in uniform.