Rob Gronkowski Says His Return from Back Surgery Is 'Going Super Well'

New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski was upbeat and optimistic when recently asked about his recovery from the back surgery that cut his 2016 season short.

"Super excited. It's going super well," he told reporters at the One Mission Buzz Off, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. "Being with the new teammates right now, working together, it's awesome."

He added:

"You just have to always look at the positives. Right now I'm feeling great. I'm feeling good out there with the team. We're just at the stage right now, OTAs, offseason workouts, just getting to know each other, feeling it all out. Everything is going good. So I'm just happy to be where I am, happy to be out on the field playing football and participating."

Gronkowski, 28, appeared in just eight games last season, catching 25 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns. When healthy, he's one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL, but Gronkowski hasn't played a full season since 2011.

Still, he played 30 regular-season games in 2014 and 2015, totaling 154 receptions, 2,300 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns. Few players offer a greater threat in the red zone, and there isn't a more complete tight end in the NFL.

A healthy Gronkowski, combined with new addition Brandin Cooks, should upgrade an already excellent passing game in New England and offer Tom Brady a surplus of riches. But as always, a healthy Gronkowski for the duration of the season is hardly guaranteed.