Heading into training camp, there is still a lingering question mark over the tight end position for the New England Patriots. After losing Aaron Hernandez and then Rob Gronkowski to injuries, the Patriots were lacking on the offensive end last season and were hoping to avoid that in 2014. After making several wide receiver upgrades, the team is getting back a healthy Gronkowski which could end any free agent pursuit New England still had.
Head coach Bill Belichick informed the media that Gronkowski has been cleared to participate in training camp since tearing his ACL back in December. The tight end underwent season ended surgery failing to complete a full season yet again. Injuries have plagued Gronkowski over recent years. He has not played a full season since 2011 after suffering variety of injuries from his arm to his back to his ankle. Now, the tight end will not have any restrictions as he heads into 2014.
"I mean the health of the team is the most important thing we have," Belichick said, via the Boston Globe. "We try to do everything we can to help all the players. We don't single out these players and those players. We need all of them."
Getting Gronkowski back and healthy is a big upgrade to the offense and for quarterback Tom Brady. Without safety blankets like Wes Welker and the tight end on the roster, the quarterback struggled to make something out of nothing last season. That will not be the case this year as long as Gronkowski stays healthy.
With the return of Gronkowski, the Patriots are unlikely to target any remaining free agents unless someone turns out to get injured. New England was being linked to both Jermichael Finley and Dustin Keller in the late weeks of the offseason given the unknown surrounding Gronkowski's health. Both Finley and Keller were coming off serious, season-ending injuries themselves, but were considered the best on the market. The Patriots brought in both at different times for workouts, but never made a signing.
It was assumed originally that Gronkowski would start the year on the physically unable to perform list, but since that is not the case, the Patriots have no need at the moment for Finley or Keller. Both players are now targeting returns to their previous teams after being ruled healthy by their personal doctors.
