FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – No more end-zone spikes for a while from Rob Gronkowski.
A person familiar with the process said Monday the New England Patriots tight end expects to be sidelined for four to six weeks after having surgery for a broken left forearm. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick gave no update on the high-scoring, free-spirited tight end, who appeared to be hurt while blocking on an extra point late in the Patriots’ 59-24 win Sunday over the Indianapolis Colts.
Asked during an early afternoon conference call if Gronkowski had undergone surgery, Belichick said, “I really haven’t met with our doctors and trainers yet today. I do that at the end of the day. I don’t have any updates.
“Whatever the injury information is, we’ll release it in a timely fashion, when we’re required by the league, just like we always do.”
The Patriots gave no estimate of how long Gronkowski, who hasn’t missed a game in his three NFL seasons, might be sidelined. But they have to make a quick adjustment with only three days to prepare for Thursday night’s game at the New York Jets.
Ravens’ Reed suspended 1 game: Baltimore Ravens star safety Ed Reed was suspended for one game by the NFL on Monday for repeated hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
The 11-year veteran will miss Sunday’s game against San Diego.
Reed is suspended for three violations of the player safety rules in the past three seasons. The latest came in Sunday night’s 13-10 victory over Pittsburgh when he was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter for a hit to the head of receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Reed also was penalized Sept. 23 against the Patriots for unnecessary roughness and fined $21,000 for striking Deion Branch when the receiver was defenseless. Before that, Reed hit Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Dec. 19, 2010, and was fined $10,000.
McGahee likely done for season: At Englewood, Colo., Broncos running back Willis McGahee tore a ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
An MRI conducted Monday showed a “nonsurgical” tear, said coach John Fox. He said there was no immediate plan to put the 10-year veteran on injured reserve.
Backups Ronnie Hillman and Lance Ball are expected to share McGahee’s spot, with Knowshon Moreno also available.
Lions to bench Young vs. Texans: At Allen Park, Mich., the Detroit Lions are benching wide receiver Titus Young for Thursday’s game against Houston after what coach Jim Schwartz calls “unacceptable” behavior during Sunday’s loss to Green Bay.
Schwartz does not characterize the move as a suspension, but says Young was sent home from the team’s practice facility Monday and will be inactive against the Texans. The coach does not say what Young specifically did wrong, but says there’s no room for selfish behavior in a team sport.
Young, a second-year receiver out of Boise State, has 33 catches for 383 yards and four touchdowns this season. He caught one pass for 24 yards Sunday.
Young was involved in an altercation with teammate Louis Delmas last offseason. When he was in college, he missed most of the 2008 season for disciplinary reasons.
Redskins’ Meriweather out for season: At Ashburn, Va., Brandon Meriweather’s season is done after one game with a torn ACL in his right knee – and right after his left knee had finally healed.
An MRI on Monday revealed the season-ending injury for the snake-bit safety who played just long enough to give a tantalizing taste of what he could do to help one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL.
Falcons backup lineman Hawley suspended: At Flowery Branch, Ga., Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Joe Hawley has been suspended four games for violating NFL rules against performance-enhancing substances.
The league announced the penalty Monday, one day after the NFC-leading Falcons improved to 9-1 with a 23-19 victory over Arizona.
Hawley is a backup behind Falcons longtime center Todd McClure.
