Report: Rob Gronkowski could undergo back surgery

In major news out of Foxborough, reports are surfacing that New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski could be undergoing back surgery soon.

Gronkowski has already had back surgery once in his career. It took place while he was a junior at the University of Arizona.

One of the game’s best players regardless of position, Gronkowski has been hit with a rash of injuries the past few seasons. From a torn ACL and MCL back in 2013 to his latest back injury, issues have been piling up.

When healthy, Gronkowski is a generational player at his position, and arguably the best player on the Patriots’ roster.

Despite the presence of Martellus Bennett, losing Gronkowski for the rest of the year would be a massive blow for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The Pro Bowler has racked up 25 receptions for 540 yards in eight games this season. He exited last week’s matchup against the New York Jets with the aforementioned back injury.

Update: The Patriots are unable to use the designated-to-return tag on Rob Gronkowski, as it is already being used on rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett. If Gronkowski goes on IR, it is for the duration of the season.

Also, Ian Rapaport is reporting that the back injury suffered by Gronkowski is a herniated disk.