New England Patriots Rumors: Could Rob Gronkowski Return By Week 3?

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the answer is yes. Gronkowski is making huge strides in his recovery, and the Patriots are hopeful that he can be available by next week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Patriots elected not to put Gronk on the physically unable to perform list, and that decision appears to have paid off - had he been placed on the PUP list, he wouldn't have been available until week 7's game against the Jets in East Rutherford.