The New England Patriots are devastating even without Rob Gronkowski on the field but, in short, Tom Brady and company take things to another level when the All-Pro tight end is available. With that as the backdrop, Gronkowski was forced to the sideline and evaluated for a concussion late in the second quarter during the AFC Championship Game.
The hit that sent him off the field was a helmet-to-helmet collision with Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church, who was flagged for a 15-yard penalty.
https://twitter.com/BovadaLV/status/955190722206093312
The helmet to helmet hit on Gronk who went to the locker room pic.twitter.com/J9Ce0jKqjM
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 21, 2018
Following the hit, the Patriots announced that Gronkowski was questionable to return and word broke that he was undergoing concussion tests that spread into the third quarter as the rest of the team trekked back onto the field.
#Patriots injury update: Rob Gronkowski (head) is questionable to return.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 21, 2018
#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
(head) is questionable to return. He’s undergoing tests for a possible concussion in the locker room.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2018
The NFL’s concussion protocol has repeatedly come under fire in recent weeks and this is a high-profile instance for the public to weigh in, especially through the prism of a top-flight player in a playoff atmosphere. Given the “questionable” designation, the door is presumably open for Gronkowski to return but, if he does, it is safe to assume that many concerns and inquiries will be voiced in the aftermath.
Stay tuned as more information becomes available with regard to Gronkowski and the rest of the AFC Championship Game.
