Gronkowski confirms third arm surgery
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent surgery in February for an infection in the arm that was broken twice this past season, he confirmed Wednesday.
Gronkowski told ESPN Radio that he's well down the road in his rehab.
"Just rehabbing, getting the muscle stronger around it. You want to get everything activated, re-activated, because it shuts down for a little bit when it's healing. Just rehabbing, and when my trainers give me the 'good to go,' hopefully in the next couple weeks, hopefully as soon as possible, I can get rolling again and get back in the weight room and get back on the field and do what I love doing -- running around and catching some balls," he said.
The infection in his arm was in the early stages and isn't likely to cause any prolonged absence.
Gronkowski broke his left forearm in a Nov. 18 game against Indianapolis. After missing five games, he returned for the final regular-season game against Miami but rebroke the arm in a Jan. 13 playoff game against Houston. The procedure to treat the infection was his third surgery on the arm.
The cast to help repair the second break had come off shortly before the infection came about. Gronkowski was hoping to return to workouts by early March, but now will be placed on hold while he again recovers.
Gronkowski said his much-discussed off-field behavior was a topic of conversation with management, but he'd like to keep the subject matter from those sessions between himself and the team.
"Whatever I talk to about with the Patriots, we stay confidential, we don't give anything out," he said Wednesday. "And, basically just coming from myself -- just gotta watch out. Who's out there, who's watching, everything."
In 11 games during the 2012 season, Gronkowski caught 55 passes for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns, giving him 187 receptions for 2,663 yards and 38 TDs in three NFL seasons.
