Jake Ballard’s time with the Patriots is ending, which likely means Rob Gronkowski will avoid the PUP list.
Ballard was cut by the Patriots following their preseason finale against the Giants. It ends Ballard’s year-long run with New England, where he didn’t play a game after he tore his ACL for the Giants’ in their Super Bowl XLVI win over the Patriots.
The Giants waived/failed physical Ballard last June and hoped to put him on injured reserve, but the Patriots claimed him. But he will not play a down for the Patriots, at least not on this stint, as the team likely plans to keep tight ends Zach Sudfeld, Michael Hoomanawanui and keep Gronkowski off the PUP list.
That does not necessarily mean Gronknowski will play for the Patriots opener against the Bills, but that New England thinks he will be ready sooner than later. If Gronkowski — recovering from a fractured forearm, and the infections that stemmed from the surgery — was put on the PUP list he would not have been able to play till Week 7.