Dual injuries force Gronk to miss practice
FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski has only missed one game this season, but he seems to be struggling through multiple injuries at the midway point of the schedule.
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
Gronkowski was absent from yesterday’s practice due to back and ankle injuries. That’s significant news, as it was his first missed practice since Week 5. and first absence since he’d been listed with a back injury. Gronkowski dealt with back spasms in the days leading up to the Week 7 game at the Bears, according to a source. He skipped the trip to Chicago, but returned the following week to face his hometown Buffalo Bills. This has been an unusually quiet season for Gronk, who has scored only one touchdown in seven games. Right guard Shaq Mason, dealing with a calf injury, also missed yesterday’s practice. He hasn’t participated since suffering the injury against the Bills . Linebacker Nicholas Grigsby (illness) and offensive lineman Brian Schwenke (foot) were the other players not spotted on the field. The Pats received some positive news as wide receiver Julian Edelman returned after a one-day absence. Edelman was limited yesterday with an ankle injury. Tight end Jacob Hollister (hamstring) and DE Deatrich Wise (illness) also returned after missing Wednesday’s session.
O-line depth
Offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia used the word “comfortable” when asked about the backups on the right side of the line. The Pats finished out the Bills game without two key starters — Mason, who exited with the calf injury, and tackle Marcus Cannon , who missed his second consecutive game with a concussion. Ted Karras and LaAdrian Waddle, handled the snaps at right guard and right tackle, respectively. “Those are things that you obviously have some concern about,” Scarnecchia said. “But we had Ted out there, and every time Ted goes out on the field for us since he got here, he knows what we’re doing, he knows how we want it done. We can really rely on this guy to come through for us. So we feel very comfortable there.” “And (Waddle has) been our right tackle the last couple of weeks,’ Scarnecchia added. “He started last year for us at times, especially in the second half of the season, and we feel very comfortable with him. So we’ll see how things here going forward with Shaq and Marcus, whether or not they’re available this week.”
‘Make it tough’
At least the defense is being realistic heading into Sunday night against Green Bay. The Pats know Aaron Rodgers is going to make plays no matter what. “You’ve got to try to make it tough,” safety Devin McCourty said. “There’s going to be times you’re going to play perfect and it’s going to be a first down or it’s going to be a tough catch on third. It’s just some balls you can’t get to.”