Report: Gronk Needs Back Surgery [Update]

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s injury in Week 10's game against the Seahawks was more than the reported punctured lung. According to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, Gronkowski needs back surgery and will be out for a while.

If true, this means that Gronk played with a ruptured disk in last Sunday’s game against the Jets. (He had two targets but no catches.)

As good as Martellus Bennett has been, he’s not Gronkowski. In the past, the Patriots have figured out ways to put together drives without their enormous pass-catcher drawing the majority of the defense’s attention, and they’ll have to improvise once again, possibly for the rest of this season.

Update, 9:28 p.m. EST: The Patriots have released the following (bleak) statement:

During the Seattle game on November 13, Rob sustained a hit to the chest that resulted in a pulmonary contusion to his lung. Rob was examined by several specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital as directed by the team, as well as an independent physician. He received medical clearance to return to play two weeks later for the New York Jets game on November 27. After a hit early in the Jets game, Rob began to experience significant back and leg pain. This injury forced him to leave the game and he did not return. With the help of the Patriots medical staff, along with the consultation of several medical experts, it has been determined that it is in Rob’s best long-term interest to undergo surgery to address his lower back injury. Rob is expected to have surgery tomorrow. We do not expect that he will be able to play for the remainder of the 2016 season, but will await the results of tomorrow’s surgery before making a final determination. Rob has always been one of our hardest workers and was voted captain for the leadership he provides on our team. We are deeply saddened any time a player is lost to injury. We are committed to assisting Rob throughout his recovery and look forward to his return to playing football for the New England Patriots.