CHICAGO -- Remember how earlier this month we were trumpeting the fact the Patriots finally had their full group of offensive options together on the field in the regular season for the first time since late 2016? It appears that streak might last all of … two games.
If Rob Gronkowski can’t go Sunday against the Bears (and there are reports he didn't make the trip but the team has yet to rule him out as they normally do), the offensive burden of trying to replace him will be another collective effort, as more will be asked of Julian Edelman, James White, Josh Gordon and Sony Michel. One thing we do know — this is a game that will rise and fall on New England’s ability to generate offense off its run game and the threat of play action, which means another vital outing for Michel. Another thing? An occasionally pesky Bears pass rush (regardless of how effective Khalil Mack might be) will likely force some quick throws from Tom Brady. That increases the importance on the make-you-miss guys like White and Edelman.
From a pure positional standpoint, Jacob Hollister — who has been limited to three games this year because of injury — could have an opportunity for some offensive production for the first time this year. It’ll also be a big workload for veteran Dwayne Allen. Basically, the Patriots are now at a point where they have the requisite offensive depth, at least on paper, to make it work against Chicago if Gronkowski can't go.
UPDATED, 8:30 p.m. -- The Patriots have officially classified Gronkowski as "doubtful," while Hollister, Geneo Grissom and John Simon have all been downgraded to "out."
Gronkowski was actually riding a streak of nine straight games started (fourth among all active tight ends) after last Sunday, and the big fella was feeling good enough to shrug off talk about the state of his ankle when he spoke with us on Wednesday with a little laugh. (Frankly, the fact that he spoke with the media twice this week was a good sign.) But the fact the back popped up late in the week, combined with the news from Saturday that he might not be able to go against Chicago, that's certainly a red flag. This is where we remind you the very fact he was available in the second round to the Patriots was due at least in part to a history of back issues he had in college. If it was a new health issue — hand, foot, whatever — as weird as it sounds, it wouldn’t be as big a deal because there wouldn’t be a history there. The back? That’s another matter altogether.