NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski has 2 cracked ribs and is in danger of missing at least 1 more game beyond Week 4. Initial X-rays reportedly failed to reveal the issue, but doctors found 2 hairline fractures on re-examination. Cameron Brate ranked 2nd among Tampa TEs in playing time and drew 4 targets against the Rams in Week 3 and looks like the better fantasy bet over O.J. Howard while Gronk is out
Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) didn't travel with the team to New England and is out for Sunday night's game vs. the Patriots. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 5. TE Cameron Brate has run more routes than TE O.J. Howard (54 to 14) and seen more targets (6 to 2) through 3 weeks, so he's the preferred fantasy play if you need a Bucs TE.
Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) is listed as doubtful for Sunday night's game vs. the Patriots. He didn't practice all week. It's a surprise after reports that Gronk was on track to play in this one. He obviously should be on fantasy benches now. We'll let you know if his status changes. TEs Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard figure to split pass-catching duties with Gronkowski out, leaving both guys as unreliable fantasy plays.
Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice. We're still expecting Gronk to play vs. the Patriots on Sunday night, but his status is worth checking on tomorrow. RB Gio Bernard also missed practice again on Thursday.
Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) was held out of Wednesday's practice. Gronk might not practice much this week after taking a big shot to the midsection this past Sunday, but he's expected to be available for Sunday night's game vs. the Patriots. We'd be surprised if he missed that one.
X-rays on Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski's ribs came back clean, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Gronk returned to Sunday's game vs. the Rams, and Schefter calls Gronk "likely" to play vs. his former Patriots squad on Sunday night.
Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski was injured when he took a big hit to the midsection in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Rams. It's unclear what Gronk injured, but he headed back to the locker room with a trainer. We'll pass along an update when we get one.
Update: Gronkowski returned to the game.
Bucs WR Antonio Brown remains on the COVID list as of Friday night and is expected to miss Sunday's game vs. the Rams, according to insider Greg Auman. When Brown missed last year's NFC Championship, WRs Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson basically split #3 WR duties. Neither guy can be trusted in fantasy lineups. Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski could all pick up extra targets with Brown out.
Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard returned to the practice field at the end of July, but that doesn't mean he's all the way back physically, coming off the Achilles' tendon tear that ended his 2020 season. “He’s not there yet," HC Bruce Arians said in his Monday press conference. "He had a chance to make a couple grimy chances in the end zone today [and] didn’t come up with them. I expect him to make those. He’s still catching up to the speed of it and the physicality of it. He’s been out a long time, so he needs this camp.” Howard remains a later-round flier in all formats, so it's easy to take on the risk that he doesn't rebound all the way. The upside, of course, is that he does get back close to 100% of his previous level and takes the receiving lead among Tampa Bay TEs. We'll see how he progresses through the rest of camp and preseason.
A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that Patriots QB Tom Brady must serve the 4-game suspension for his role in "Deflategate." Brady won his appeal of the suspension last fall and played all 16 games. He does have the option of appealing this decision to the Supreme Court, although that's viewed as unlikely. Brady and the league could also agree on a reduced ban. But for now, he'll miss the first 4 contests of the 2016 season. QB Jimmy Garoppolo will start those games against the Cardinals, Dolphins, Texans and Bills. Those matchups make him tough to like as a fantasy option, especially with no teams on bye for the first 3 weeks. Brady's suspension also hurts WR Julian Edelman and TE Rob Gronkowski's early-season outlooks.
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