The New England Patriots received a boost with the news tight end Rob Gronkowski cleared the concussion protocol ahead of Super Bowl LII.
Gronkowski was forced out of the AFC Championship Game following an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville Jaguars safety Barry Church and had missed practice sessions last week.
Once diagnosed with concussion, NFL players are required to pass a multiple-step procedure and receive clearance from both a team physician as well as an independent neurological consultant.
Gronkowski, who has been a five-time All Pro in his eight seasons in the league, got the all-clear on Thursday and was able to practice fully in Minnesota for the first time before meeting the media in the afternoon.
"I was just going through the protocol, whatever the standards were, whatever they had me do throughout the weeks," said Gronkowski, who missed last year's Super Bowl due to injury.
"I would say they were more on the cautious side of getting me out there with the bye week and everything in-between, which definitely helped out big time.
"(I) just did every step every day and everything went smooth. Officially get the word today that I was cleared so it was super nice to hear, the doctor going through the whole process and I'm ready to roll.
"It's just good to be out there with the boys, getting the chemistry down and it was a good day.
"I was cleared. I was able to do everything, everything I was asked to do out there on the field. I'll be ready to roll, I'll be full go."
Gronkowski's availability would be a major bonus for New England's quarterback Tom Brady given the 28-year-old possesses a rare combination of elite size and speed that makes him incredibly difficult to cover.
Yet Pats head coach Bill Belichick, who typically delivers deadpan press conferences, offered reporters little before Gronkowski spoke.
"Look those things are really out of our control so however it goes, it goes and hopefully it goes well," Belichick said.
"We'll talk to the medical people and list him on the injury report appropriately and go from there but hopefully he'll be ready to go."
