Rob Gronkowski Injury: New England Patriots' Star Will Benefit from Long Layoff

Rob Gronkowski is lucky that there is a bye week between the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl.

It gives him plenty of time to get healthy and 100 percent ready to be a force against the New York Giants on February 5.

Yesterday, against the Baltimore Ravens, the Gronk awkwardly twisted his ankle upon being brought down after a 23-yard catch. He went to the locker room with 19 seconds left in the third quarter, but made his return to the field with 12:15 remaining in the fourth.

He did not make any statistical impact upon his return and may have been hindered by the injury.

No one seems too worried about it, according to the Worcester Telegram’s Bill Doyle.

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“That's like my brother,” tight end Aaron Hernandez said of Gronkowski. “It was weird not being on the field with him because every time I look in the huddle, it's me and him. He's a tough person and you see he came back on the field ready to play and I'm sure he'll be great for that Super Bowl.” 

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Not even the man himself is concerned.

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“It's all good,” Gronkowski said. “Just watch the replay and whatever you see you see, but it's all good and I'll be ready to go.” 

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Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston did check out the tape.

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"It's good," he said, when she asked about his foot. When told the replay made the injury look somewhat horrific, he grinned and said, "Well, there you go."

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The beastly tight end, who caught 17 touchdowns in the regular season, was seen wearing a walking boot while leaving the game.

If the injury is truly minor like he insists, and he is certainly giving off the vibe that it is, that is a great sign for Patriots fans going into these next two weeks.

New England absolutely needs Gronk on the field in Indianapolis because of the mismatches he creates and his ability to make clutch catches over seemingly any defender in his way.

But they need a healthy Gronkowski, not a half-speed, half-injured one.

So rest that ankle up, Rob. The Patriots are going to need you at full strength in the big game.