All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski practiced on Thursday for the Patriots.
He missed last Sunday's loss to Philadelphia after suffering a knee injury the previous week at Denver. When the Texans met with the media on Thursday, many were asked about the prolific pass-catcher, who's already pulled in 63 touchdown catches in 76 career games since 2010.
"We're preparing probably for him to play," linebacker Brian Cushing said "If he does, he does, if he doesn't, we'll definitely just take some of those adjustments out, but we'll definitely know that we have other options as well."
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said a formidable New England offense quarterbacked by Tom Brady is only improved if Gronkowski is active and able to play.
"It's more dangerous," Clowney said. "Gronk is a big target. They want to get the ball to him. He can
line up against anybody. Corners and safeties are too short to guard him. Linebackers are too slow to guard him."
For head coach Bill O'Brien, a Patriots assistant in Gronkowski's first two NFL seasons, the tight end has a "big impact" on the game. O'Brien reeled off a list of attributes and reasons the 3-time All-Pro is one of the premier targets in the NFL.
- "Big,"
- "athletic,"
- "tough,"
- "great catch radius,"
- "great hands,"
- "instinctive player
- "able to pick up the game and learn the game."
The Houston Texans roster in photos.
DL, Thomas Booker, #56
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, A.J. Cann, #60
LB, Blake Cashman, #53
DL, Maliek Collins, #96
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
OL, Austin Deculus, #76
WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4
DL, Michael Dwumfour, #50
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
OL, Kenyon Green, #59.
DL, Rasheem Green, #92
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
FB, Troy Hairston, #34
LB, Jake Hansen, #49
DL, Demone Harris, #94
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
DL, Kurt Hinish, #93
TE, O.J. Howard, #83
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jerry Hughes, #55
WR, Tyler Johnson, #14
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
OL, Justin McCray, #64
QB, Davis Mills, #10
WR, Chris Moore, #15
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
DB, Steven Nelson, #21
RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33
DL, Ogbo Okoronkwo, #45
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Dameon Pierce, #31
DB, Jalen Pitre, #5
OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #44
DB, Tremon Smith, #1.
DB, M.J. Stewart, #29
DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
LS, Jon Weeks #46
An image from the Aug 19, 2022 preseason week 2 game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
