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Friday update: Bruce Arians says that Gronkowski is out for Week 10. This isn’t surprising news.
Bruce Arians told Tampa Bay media that WR Antonio Brown (ankle), TE Rob Gronkowski (back) and CB Rashard Robinson (hamstring) are OUT for Sunday vs. Washington.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 12, 2021
Thursday PM update: Head coach Bruce Arians said, “We think in about two or three weeks he’ll be back to normal” when speaking about Gronkowski’s back injury on SiriusXM NFL Radio. It appears that Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard will continue to split work.
Thursday update: Gronkowski was seen running on the side at practice, per Rick Stroud on Thursday. He will likely get another DNP on the injury report and will be on track to sit out this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told reporters on Wednesday that he is not confident that tight end Rob Gronkowski will return this week, per Rick Stroud. The veteran tight end was dealing with the back spams in Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints.
Fantasy football implications
With the Buccaneers likely not having Gronkowski for this week’s game, they’ll once again lean on their trio of tight ends in Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, and Darren Fells. Fells was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday and will reportedly be activated on Sunday against the Washington Football Team.
Fells will serve more as a blocker, so there is not much fantasy football value. As for Brate and Howard, they’ve had their moments this season. Brate has 13 receptions (25 targets) for 125 yards in eight games this season. Howard, on the other hand, also has 13 receptions (19 targets) for 125 yards with a touchdown. His lone touchdown reception came in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.