Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal reports that tight end Rob Gronkowski, offensive tackle Nate Solder, and guard Jonathan Cooper were not on the New England Patriots’ team flight to Arizona on Friday, for the team’s game against the Cardinals on Sunday night:
The Providence Journal has learned that Rob Gronkowski, Nate Solder and Jonathan Cooper were not with their teammates as they left Friday for Arizona. Unless the three players are taking other avenues to get out West, it appears that the Patriots could be without some help to open the season against the Arizona Cardinals. Another option is that the three players travel to Phoenix on Saturday.
The Patriots list eight players as “questionable” on Friday, but the team doesn’t have to rule anyone out until Saturday.
Now, just because the players aren’t on the team flight doesn’t mean that they won’t play on Sunday night, as perhaps they’re getting treatment back at the team facility (or dealing with a personal matter) and will find their own way to the road game. But, it’s very rare that a player misses the team flight and ends up playing.
So, we can more or less assume that Gronk, Solder, and Cooper will not play for the Patriots in what was already going to be a very difficult game in Arizona…. especially without Tom Brady (four-game Deflategate suspension). This would really make things tough on quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, against a great Arizona defense.
Gronk has been limited in practice all week with a hamstring injury that he suffered August 15 in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Not only would Gronk missing the game be very bad news for the Patriots, but for fantasy football fans that used an early-round pick on him as well (raises hand). If Gronk is unable to go, Martellus Bennett — acquired in a trade with the Bears over the offseason — would step in as the starting tight end.
UPDATE: Gronkowski, Cooper, and Solder have all officially been ruled out for the game.