UPDATE:
#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is NOT expected to play Sunday vs. #Cardinals, per source.
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) September 9, 2016
***
Things just got very interesting from a Patriots and a fantasy football standpoint.
Per Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski did not take the team charter to Arizona on Friday afternoon.
I'm hearing that Rob Gronkowski, Jonathan Cooper and Nate Solder weren't with their teammates on the flight to Arizona.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) September 9, 2016
One thing to keep in mind though, is that the Patriots uncharacteristically traveled a day earlier than usual. In the past when this has happened, injured players have stayed behind an extra day to get treatment in Foxboro, then traveled the following day.
Tom E. Curran of Comcast Sports responded to Daniels’ tweet with that same sentiment:
After staying in Foxboro for an extra day of treatment. Friday traveling throws myriad scenarios in. https://t.co/tvAJxNKTNN
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) September 9, 2016
Until we can establish no Gronk on the plane and he is downgraded by team, availability remains questionable per injury report Friday.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) September 9, 2016
Curran is well-respected and in-the-know on the Patriots’ beat, and the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe reported yesterday that Gronkowski would play on Sunday — so only time will tell.
As we mentioned in our Daily Stock Report, if Gronkowski is downgraded to OUT on late Sunday afternoon after your TE2 has played, some names to consider would be Steelers TE Jesse James and 49ers TE Vance McDonald — both whom play on Monday night.
Check back here or follow us on Twitter @RotoStreetJ for updates on Gronk and other breaking injury news before kickoff on Sunday.
