Eight days before Super Sunday, the Patriots and their fans got some very good news Saturday.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski was back on the practice field at Gillette Stadium. Gronkowski has been out since suffering a concussion in the AFC Championship Game victory over the Jaguars last Sunday. Here's how he looked, via NBCBoston's Perry Russom:
The Jags' Barry Church, by the way, was fined $24,309 by the NFL for the helmet-to-helmet hit that injured Gronkowski, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.
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Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, who also sustained a concussion against the Jags, was also back. The Boston Herald reported that despite practicing, Gronkowski still is out of the NFL's concussion protocol. Being cleared to participate in non-contact practices is the fourth step of a five-step process.
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Defensive lineman Malcom Brown (foot) was the only player absent from practice Saturday.
Still, it's a good sign that Tom Brady's top target is back on the field more than a week before the Pats take on the Eagles in Minneapolis.
Brady practiced without a glove on his throwing hand for the first time since he injured it at practice in the week leading up to the AFC title game. He had the black tape across the cut below his thumb just as he wore in the victory over the Jags.
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The Patriots will practice in Foxboro Sunday before leaving for Minneapolis on Monday after a send-off rally at Gillette Stadium at 9 a.m.
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