Gronk may be out for season
Patriots TE to undergo surgery for a herniated disk, could miss 2 months
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rob Gronkowski’s season might be over.
The star New England Patriots tight end is having surgery for a herniated disk in his back, a person with knowledge of the details tells The Associated Press.
The Patriots said Thursday night that they do not expect Gronkowski to play again this season, but are withholding final judgment until after the results of the surgery — expected to happen today — are known.
The injury is believed to have occurred during the Patriots’ loss to the Seahawks on Nov. 13, in which Gronkowski said he received “probably one of the hardest (hits) in my career” from safety Earl
Thomas.
Gronk sat out the following week against San
Francisco. He played part of the first half last week in New England’s win over the New York Jets, but did not make a reception.
Gronkowski has missed three games this season.
He has 25 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns. He’s also dealt with a hamstring injury in 2016.
The 2014 Comeback
Player of the Year, Gronkowski’s career has been plagued by injuries.
A second-round draft pick in 2010, he has had ankle and knee surgery once, and three operations on his forearm.
MCKNIGHT KILLED: Former Jets running back and kick returner Joe McKnight was fatally shot Thursday afternoon following an argument at an intersection in Terrytown, La., his agent confirmed.
NOLA.com reported that family members on the scene identified the victim as McKnight, a 2010 fourth-round draft pick of the Jets. He played three seasons with the Jets before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.
BRONCOS: One game, Denver special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis is getting a game ball from coach Gary Kubiak in a jubilant locker room after a blocked extra point led to the first defensive 2-point game-winner in NFL history.
The next, he’s wincing as the Broncos muff two punts, allow an 86-yard touchdown return and line up wrong on a field goal, giving the Chiefs a do-over they turn into a touchdown, a four-point gaffe in a gut-wrenching three-point loss.
“It’s the worst game I’ve ever been a part of special teams-wise,” DeCamillis said Thursday in his first public comments since the Broncos’ 30-27 overtime loss to Kansas City on Sunday night.
JETS: Citing an anonymous “confidant,” the New York Daily News reported that Darrelle Revis had lost his drive. Even worse, he didn’t want to play anymore. But was any of it true, Revis was asked Thursday.
“I’m under contract until 2018,” was his simple, if unclear, reply. In another moment, he added: “It’s a down year. It’s a down year for the team. It’s a down year for me personally.”
The cornerback will likely also face some tough decisions in the offseason — including whether he’ll accept a possible pay cut.
Revis is scheduled to make $15 million, including a $2 million roster bonus, next season.
OFFICIALS: NFL executive Troy Vincent tells The Associated Press he expects the league to hire as many as 17 full-time officials for the start of next season. Currently, NFL officiating crews are part-time staff and hold jobs outside of football.
THURSDAY GAMES: The NFL is re-evaluating its scheduling process in a bid to avoid the short turnaround of having teams playing on Sunday night and then travel to play on Thursday.
Last month, Washington beat Green Bay in a prime-time game on Nov. 20, and then lost a late afternoon game at Dallas four days later.
BEARS: Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, the latest blow in a lost season for the Bears.