New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had surgery on Monday on his broken forearm, according to sources from ESPN.com.
Gronkowski hurt his forearm on an extra point with just under four minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Patriots 59-24 win against the Indianapolis Colts.
On Monday coach Bill Belichick was mum on the injury.
"I don't really have anything. I know that our medical people are looking at all the players today when they come in, trying to assess their situation, like we always do on Monday. I'll catch up with them as they've had a chance (to gather that information)," he said, according to ESPNBoston.com
Although some sports media members and fans have expressed that it was a mstake for Gronkowski to be out on the field for a play so late in a blow out, Belichick and other players defended the move.
"That's football, you're playing football (for four) quarters, and that's the way things go," he said. "You can't really second guess anything, that's just the way football is. People get hurt. You've just got to deal with it," said Defensive end Rob Ninkovich to ESPNBoston.com.
The Patriots are expected to get tight end Aaron Hernandez back from an ankle injury, but it's unclear if he will be 100 percent. He has missed six games his season due to the injury and has caught 17 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
"Obviously, it's tough," Hernandez said to ESPNBoston.com. "He's one of the best players in the league, but we have a lot of players and everyone has to step up to fill the void."
The other tight ends on the depth chart include Michael Hoomanawanui, Visanthe Shiancoe and Daniel Fells.
"The way this program is, the way (coach) Bill (Belichick) makes us become the players that we become is we all have confidence and we all know we have to come to play every game regardless," Hernandez said. "And in the NFL, people go down and other people have to step up."
Gronkowski has been the focal point of the Patriots offense this season, cacthing 53 balls for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns. In Sunday's game he had seven receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
According to ESPN.com, "Gronkowski had been on the field for 668 of the team's 710 offensive snaps (94.1 percent), the highest total among the team's offensive skill position players."
The Patriots are currently first place in the AFC East with a 7-3 record. The team has a short week as they prepare to play the New York Jets on Thursday night.
Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee will miss the next six to eight weeks after suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
McGahee also fractured his lower right leg in Sunday's 20-23 win over the San Diego Chargers, according to NFL.com and Fox Sports Insider Jay Glazer. He will also need to be on crutches for about a month, according to Adam Schefter at ESPN.com.
On Monday head coach John Fox confirmed the injury sand aid that McGahee will not need surgery and will not be put on injured reserve.
"He's a fast healer. We wouldn't want to prolong it that far," Fox said, according to ESPN.com.
McGahee hurt his right knee in Sunday's game after being tackled by Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer following an 8-yard run. He had rushed for 55 yards on seven carries before leaving the game and also had one catch for 18 yards.
Rookie Ronnie Hillman and Lance Ball combined for 78 yards rushing in his place. This season McGahee leads the Broncos in rushing with 731 yards and four touchdowns.
''We've all got to step up and do our part,'' Hillman said, according to Boston.com.
Denver has rushed for 105 yards per game this season, good for 19th in the league. McGahee initially thought the injury was minor, but an MRI on Monday confirmed the severity of the tear.
The depth chart behind McGahee includes Ball, Jeremiah Johnson, Hillman and Knowshon Moreno, who has been missing from the lineup for eight-straight games following a lost fumble in Week 2 game against the Falcons.
With the timetable of rehab, McGahee could return by the playoffs if the Broncos make it. He has dealt with knee injuries throughout his career, but has been relatively healthy while playing with the Broncos.
While playing in college for the Miami Hurricanes, McGahee suffered one of the most gruesome injuries seen on television when he was hit following a screen pass. Ohio State safety Will Allen hit him in the left knee, bending it completely backwards and tearing McGahee's ACL, PCL, and MCL.
Following a lengthy rehab, he had three straight 1,000 yard seasons with the Buffalo Bills, who drafted him with the 23rd pick in the 2003 NFL draft.
