Rob Gronkowski’s anticipated return to the Patriots will come as no surprise to the Jets, who insist they have a plan for handling the star tight end so they won’t get Gronked on Sunday.
“We have calls in that are going take care of him, and keep us good as far as defense versus him,’’ linebacker Quinton Coples told The Post. “Whether he played or not, we prepared either way. We’ve got calls and, say he comes in, it’s a different offensive formation, so you have to adjust.
“It’s not that much more work, you’ve just got to make the adjustments. He’s still human. He’s a good athlete and all, we’ve just got to make sure we dial in on doing what we’re asked to do as far as the game plan and the calls that are made. Everything else should take care of itself.’’
Gronkowski hasn’t played this season, recovering from offseason back and forearm surgeries. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told reporters Friday his client “has now been cleared by all his doctors to play Sunday in the Jets game.” Gronkowski was listed as questionable Friday, meaning he had a 50 percent chance to play, but Jets coach Rex Ryan assumed it was 100 percent, saying he planned on facing Gronkowski all along.
“It doesn’t change one bit. Like we said from Day 1, I assumed he’d play. I’m assuming [Tom] Brady’s going to play. But that’s how much we assumed this guy was going to play,’’ Ryan said. “I don’t know if they were saving him for us or whatever, but I had a funny feeling he was going to play. After that first game, I thought for sure he’d play against us the second game.’’
Gronkowski missed the Jets’ Sept. 12 loss in Foxborough, but he has 21 catches for 222 yards and four touchdowns in three games against Gang Green. Now — at least according to his agent — he’s set for game No. 4.
“We know what he likes to do and what he doesn’t like to do,’’ Coples said. “He’s a red-zone threat. He likes to go get the ball, likes to have a mismatch with somebody undersized and he goes up and gets the ball. We’ve got to make sure we have somebody over the top and somebody underneath him.
“He doesn’t like to sit in. He doesn’t like to block. He’s a receiving tight end. He doesn’t like to sit in and block and do the other things. They use him down the field to stretch the field, so he doesn’t like people putting their hands on him and stuff of that nature.’’
Rest assured the Jets will put plenty of hands and pads on Gronkowski when he tries to get downfield, where Ryan said he’s most dangerous.
Asked if he thought he could stay with the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski, Coples said “most definitely.’’ But Ryan largely used free safety Antonio Allen on the tight end last year and likely will do so again, although the Jets will mix up coverages.
Strong safety Dawan Landry insisted Gronkowski’s presence won’t alter the Jets’ game plan.
“Not at all. We prepared like he’d play. They have capable guys. That just adds another weapon for Brady. But we’re ready,’’ Landry said. “He’s a safety valve. … It’s going to be his first action, so you know he’s trying to get his feet wet, so we’re just going to have to go out there and execute.’’
Cornerback Kyle Wilson, returning from a concussion this week, said if the Jets execute against Gronkowski they’ll be fine.
“[He’s] just another target,’’ Wilson said. “He’s big in certain parts of the field and in certain situations. What we got to do is just everybody do their job. If you’re job is to cover him, be where he’s supposed to be. When the ball comes, just make a play.’’