New England Patriots

Former Wildcat Rob Gronkowski Expected to Miss NFL Season Opener in Arizona

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots will be without Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in their season opener on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

The best Arizona Wildcat to suit up for an NFL team in the 2016 season is Rob Gronkowski. However, unfortunately for the New England Patriots, they will be without their four-time Pro Bowl tight end in a high-profile matchup of Super Bowl contenders against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. Gronk had sustained a hamstring injury earlier this preseason and was limited in practice all week.

#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is NOT expected to play Sunday vs. #Cardinals, per source.

— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) September 9, 2016

Arguably already one of the best tight ends in NFL history, Gronk has taken football by storm (on and off the field) ever since he was drafted by the Patriots with the 42nd overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL Draft. While the seven-year pro has already hauled in 65 touchdowns for the Patriots in his 80 NFL games, injuries have long been a concern for Gronk ever since he played college football in Arizona. Here’s a clip of some of his highlights in a Wildcats uniform.

As some of you may recall, Gronk missed his entire junior season at Arizona following an impressive and promising sophomore campaign. While team doctors do not anticipate this current injury would cause him to lose nearly as much playing time, it is unfortunate not only for the quality of Sunday’s game but also for all the Wildcats-Cardinals fans who had hoped to see him play. Gronk was to play at the University of Phoenix Stadium a week following the Wildcats Campus Kickoff game that took place in the same stadium.

Even though he’ll have to miss this game, his only other NFL game in the state of Arizona ended with a victory and a Lombardi Trophy. Jeff Erickson of 120Sports in the video above hints that maybe Patriots head coach Bill Belechek may surprise everyone and send Gronk on a separate plane to play in the game. We will see.

From all of us at ZonaZealots, we wish you a speedy recovery! You do us proud Gronk, Bear Down!