New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski reportedly will play Sunday night against the Houston Texans, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport. Gronkowski was carted off the field two weeks ago against the Denver Broncos with a right knee injury, but after practicing this week, he will look to suit up Sunday night.
Head coach Bill Belichick will look to end the New England's two-game losing streak Sunday in Houston, and the return of Gronkowski is a huge boost for their offense. Gronkowski leads the team with 931 receiving yards this season and creates a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. It's unclear if Gronkowski will be on a play count on Sunday, but expect him to be heavily involved in the Patriots offensive game plan.
The Patriots are getting back to full strength at the perfect time, as they are heading into the postseason with one of the top records in the AFC at 10-2. New England is currently a three seed in the playoffs and will likely need to win out and have either the Denver Broncos or Cincinnati Bengals lose to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman returned to practice this week after suffering a broken bone in his foot against the Giants in mid-November. Edelman has already been ruled out of Sunday's game, but wide receiver Danny Amendola, who is listed as questionable with a knee injury, is expected to start, according to ESPN' Mike Reiss.
The return of Gronkowski is a huge addition for this team during their final four-game stretch, and with Edelman looking to make his return soon, New England may be the top contender in the AFC come this postseason.
