'Good' Gronkowski handles multiple assignments in win over Texans

FOXBOROUGH — So, Rob Gronkowski: Your groin all good?

The tight end, who suffered a groin injury in last week’s win over the Saints in New Orleans, said prior to Sunday’s game against the Texans that he was good. And he proved that was the case with eight catches on a team-high 10 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown in the dramatic 36-33 win over Houston.

After the game? Again, all good.

“You have to work it through rehab and practice and everything,” he said of the groin injury. “I mean, I knew it was going to be good. That’s why I said this week I’ll be good. So I was good.”



Through the first two games, Gronkowski had endured some low points, but on Sunday against the Texans, he was as close to the old Gronkowski as we’ve seen for a full 60 minutes this season, showing up in some big moments to help lift the Patriots to a dramatic win.

But the most impressive total on the stat sheet? The targets. Gronkowski has always been a go-to, but with Julian Edelman on the sideline, it’s clear that Gronkowski has now really become Tom Brady’s No. 1 safety valve. With Edelman, there have been moments over the years where the quarterback locks on to the slot receiver. Now, more often than not, it’s Gronkowski who is the first read.

On the game-winning drive, Brady found Gronkowski for a pair of receptions, one going for eight yards and another for 15 yards, the latter of which allowed New England to pick up a key third down to keep a drive alive.

“It was a crossing route,” Gronkowski said. “I saw the defense, I saw the coverage and I knew that I had to make a play there. Tom read it pretty good and threw a really good pass, and I just made the catch. I saw where the first down marker was and I knew I had to get it to get us rolling in that (two-minute drill). Everyone did their job from there on out.”

It wasn’t just a matter of catching passer for Gronkowski. He also served to help out an offensive line tasked with trying to keep a fearsome Houston pass rush at bay.

And not having to run extra routes on an 80-degree day? That was just an added benefit.

“I don’t think I would’ve made it if I ran 50 routes,” said Gronkowski. “I actually appreciated being in there and jamming J.J. (Watt) a few times instead of going out on a route. I mean, it’s helping out the team jamming the pass rush so Tom gets more time, and also at the same time, a guy covering in man is sitting there. So it’s kind of like taking two guys for (the price of) one helping out the team that way. I have no problem doing that on a day like today.”