New England Patriots

Patriots re-sign youngest Gronkowski brother to practice squad

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:00 p.m. ET

Brett Smiley

The New England Patriots announced on Wednesday that they signed 23-year-old fullback Glenn Gronkowski, the youngest of the five Gronkowski brothers who spent their childhood joyfully beating each other up.

Glenn played his college ball at Kansas State and signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent this season. He made the 53-man roster but Buffalo released him on September 12, after which the Patriots signed him to their practice squad twice and released him twice.

So this is Glenn's third time, and hopefully a charm for him to stick in New England. Meanwhile the star of the the Gronk clan, Rob, is recovering from a crushing hit levied by Seahawks safety Earl Thomas on Sunday. Gronk sustained a chest or lung injury and his status for the Patriots' Week 11 game at San Francisco is uncertain.

Bonus Gronkowski, minus Rob, the "funnest" family in football: