Patriots owner hopes Rob Gronkowski returns for comeback this season

FOXBORO, Mass. — Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, said he wants retired Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski to return to the field in time for the playoffs.

According to the NFL Network, Gronk got the message.

If Gronk returned this season, he would have to make his decision by Nov. 30. Kraft and the team would welcome him back with open arms, as Tom Brady has struggled to find a consistent tight end to throw to.

Gronk said in March that he was walking away from football. NFL Network's reports that when Gronk cleaned out his locker, according to sources, Kraft walked up to him and said he was hopeful he'd return to play in November, December and in the playoffs.

If that happened, according to NFL rules, the last day for Gronk and the team to grant him an official return would be Nov. 30. Gronk still hasn't turned in his retirement papers.

On his first appearance as an analyst on Thursday Night Football on Fox, he said he was open to returning. But in his nine-year playing career he had many injuries and nine surgeries.

In August, he teamed up with a company that makes over-the-counter products with CBD, and said it's helped him recover. CBD is a banned substance in the NFL, so if he does return, he would have to stop taking it.

By NFL rules, if a player doesn't come off the retired/reserved list by Week 13, then they can't play that season. It's to prevent a player sitting out the regular season, and then coming in for the playoffs.

Cox Media Group