Rob Gronkowski reportedly needs fourth surgery, could still play Week 1

Multiple surgeries on the same body part can never be a good thing, and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is heading for his fourth. According to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald, Gronkowski needs a fourth operation on his surgically-repaired forearm to replace the metal plate that is holding it together.

Just a few days ago, reports surfaced that indicated Gronkowski has been looking “great” during offseason workouts and that there was a possibility he could avoid a fourth surgery. Guregian’s sources say the fourth procedure is a must, but that Gronk could still be ready for the start of the season if all goes well.

If it doesn’t, the Patriots could have a problem. The plate in Gronkowski’s arm needs to be replaced and the surrounding tissue needs to be checked for infection. If there is no infection, the fourth surgery should be his last and the recovery period would begin immediately. If there is an infection, Gronk would need more surgery and could miss time during the 2013 season.

Obviously, the Patriots are hoping everything in his arm comes back clean and this nightmare can end. It’s hard to believe Gronk is only 23 years old with all the injuries he has had, which has to be a major concern for New England given the massive contract extension they gave him last season. For the record, there is no indication that any of this was caused by Gronkowski rumbling with his brother on stage in Vegas.