If this was rust, the Patriots offense just got much scarier.
Frightening, even.
The much-anticipated return of Rob Gronkowski from a broken forearm and back surgery became a side note in the Jets’ wild 30-27, overtime victory over the Patriots on Sunday, but the Pro Bowl tight end made a remarkable impact considering it was his first game since last January.
The gifted 6-foot-6 Gronkowski made an immediate difference: two catches on the Patriots first drive, eight catches altogether — one fewer reception than Patriots tight ends had managed in the team’s first six games — for 114 yards.
“He played his butt off,” Tom Brady said.
The 24-year-old Gronkowski, playing with a large protective brace on his left arm, was last in action in the Patriots’ division round playoff game against the Texans last season. In that game, he broke his left forearm after originally suffering the same injury in Week 11 of the regular season. He needed two separate offseason surgeries on the forearm to clean out an infection and repair the new break. He also underwent a procedure on his back in June.
Despite practicing the last five weeks, Gronkowski didn’t play in a game until he was finally cleared for action by Dr. Jesse Jupiter and Dr. James Andrews in time for the Jets game.
“I felt good, I felt just like normal, being back there with my teammates and rolling,” he said.
Even when Gronkowski wasn’t producing first downs, he was helping Brady and the Patriots. Receiver Julian Edelman saw fewer double teams and New England’s two first-half rushing touchdowns came with the Jets focused on the big and fast tight end.
“He’s one of the best players in the NFL,” Brady said. “You saw what he does today. It’s his first game back.”
The chemistry between the two wasn’t perfect. On one pass into the end zone, Gronkowski was late turning his head and never picked up the ball. Brady was also targeting him when Antonio Allen intercepted Brady’s pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown.
Gronkowski pointed to several other plays he left out on the field, plays Gronkowski said he has to make.
One stood out in particular, on the final drive of regulation when the Patriots forced overtime with a 44-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal. Gronkowski got behind the Jets secondary and nearly hauled in a high Brady pass with his left hand at the Jets 12-yard-line, a play that could have enabled the Patriots to go in for the game-winning touchdown.
“I’m still mad at myself about that,” he said. “I had it, I brought it in and I dropped it. … Personally, I got to come down with some of those plays.”