As expected, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski suffered a torn ACL when hit low by Browns safety T.J. Ward on Sunday.
Per a league source, an MRI confirmed the damage. Gronkowski will miss the rest of the season. Surgery and rehab will affect his preparation for 2014.
The MRI also shows damage to the MCL. It’s not currently believed that surgical repair will be needed of the MCL.
That provides a bit of a silver lining. In 2008, Tom Brady tore an ACL and an MCL, and surgical tinkering with the MCL reportedly resulted in an infection.
For Gronkowski, who battled an infection following forearm surgery earlier this year, the prospect of future complications looms over the ACL repair.
PFT is also reporting Gronk suffered a slight concussion on the same play. He was placed on IR Monday. Obviously bad news for owners, but a terrible break for Gronk, who is coming off arm and back issues. As for next year in terms of fantasy, we could be looking at a similar situation as this season where he is a question mark heading into fantasy drafts, and also the start of the regular season. His ADP would likely drop leaving him a risky, early pick with more value the later you can select him. However, we're a long way from that point... As for this season, it looks like the Pats will go back to more three WR sets featuring Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman with Shane Vereen part of that package. Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins could also creep back on the fantasy radar.
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