Taking A Look Back At Rob Gronkowski’s Injury History

On Tuesday afternoon, in a move that can only be described as shocking, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired tight end Rob Gronkowski as well as a 2020 seventh-round draft pick from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick. “Gronk” – as he is affectionately known – sat out the 2019 season after retiring following the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII victory against the St. Louis Rams for mental health reasons.

Gronkowski was only willing to return if it meant playing for Tampa Bay – who also acquired quarterback and long-time teammate Tom Brady during free agency – and passed his physical “with flying colors,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 6’6” tight end figures to be a major contributor for the Buccaneers’ new look offense and gives Brady yet another weapon to work with alongside receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. However, much as was the case throughout his career, the future Hall of Famer’s health will be his greatest question mark moving forward.

Gronkowski has suffered more than 10 injuries over the course of his college and NFL careers that have resulted in him missing at least one game. They include:

• 2009: Back surgery to address a herniated disc with nerve impingement (missed his entire junior season at Arizona)
• 2012: Broken left forearm (missed six games total and required multiple surgeries due to various complications)
• 2013: Fractured vertebrae/herniated disc (sources are unclear as to which injury Gronkowski suffered, though surgery was required and he missed all of the 2013 preseason as well as the first six games of the regular season)
• 2013: Torn right ACL/MCL, concussion (nine total games missed)
• 2015: Right knee bone bruise (one game missed)
• 2016: Hamstring strain (two games missed)
• 2016: Chest/lung contusion (one game missed)
• 2016: Herniated disc with nerve impingement (missed final eight games, including playoffs; back surgery was ultimately performed)
• 2017: Thigh contusion (one game missed)
• 2018: Concussion (one game missed)
• 2018: Back sprain/strain (three games missed)

Many of these injuries are rather significant, with Gronkowski’s multiple back surgeries and concussions standing out most prominently. Surgery to address a disc herniation – known as a microdiscectomy – involves arthroscopically removing a portion of the cartilaginous disc that sits between the back bones that is impinging on a local nerve root; the nerve impingement is what ultimately causes the pain in the back as well as numbness, tingling, and/or weakness in the legs.

The removal of even just a portion of the intervertebral disc results in decreased shock absorption and cushioning in the back; it may also impair lumbar range of motion, which can then alter the way that forces are distributed to and through the hips, knees, low back, and mid-back.

Many NFL athletes have been able to lead productive careers after undergoing back surgery – Gronkowski himself is a prime example of this; however, with every surgery, the odds that the back flares up increases. Additionally, as forces are distributed differently throughout the body due to the surgery, the joint segments above as well as below the surgical location become more likely to be injured.

It’s gamble – albeit an arguably smart one – for Tampa Bay and, hopefully, a smart decision for Gronkowski. It is unlikely that any of his past injuries – beyond those of his back and concussions – will bear any tangible impact on his upcoming season; the tearing of his right ACL and MCL as well as the subsequent bone bruise, while significant at the time, occurred far enough in the past – seven and five years, respectively – to have little effect on his injury risk as most concomitant ACL injuries occur within the first two years after the initial.

How Gronkowski’s back holds up over the course of the season as well as how his year removed from the game impacts his overall health will be the main points of interest during his 2020 campaign. If healthy, it’s likely that the once-dominant tight end will return to his prior form. That being said, even if he is unable to stay on the field, the Buccaneers didn’t exactly give up a ton of value to acquire him, meaning the acquisition was low risk-high reward.

Gronkowski – who will turn 31 in a matter of weeks – has one-year, $10 million remaining on his contract. He was named First-Team All-Pro four times and caught double-digit touchdowns five times during his nine seasons with New England.