Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said he hopes to be out of the NFL's concussion protocol Wednesday and will play in Sunday night's Super Bowl matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The star tight end was injured just before halftime in the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars when he was hit in the head.
He was taken out of the game and did not return. He did not practice for nearly a week, but was on the field in Foxborough on Saturday and Sunday practicing with his teammates.
Gronk had not spoken to reporters since the injury and did not participate in Media Night Monday, but answered questions after a public event with LeGarrette Blount at the Mall of America where the former teammates played Madden NFL head-to-head.
At the event, reporters first asked him if he was "good to go" in regards to practicing.
"Hopefully by tomorrow," he replied. "We'll see how it goes. I'm not the guy to say, 'Oh, I'm out of the (concussion) protocol.' That's the doctor's call. Hopefully that's very soon."
He was then asked about whether he thinks he would play in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
"Yes," he replied with a smile. "Yes."