Superstar Tight End Not Expected to Return for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The party won't be ending for Rob Gronkowski any time soon. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't expect the tight end to return to the field this season or at all:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not counting on Rob Gronkowski to return to football:https://t.co/CAIldbZ71a
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2022

Gronkowski retired earlier this offseason after a year that saw him post his most yards per game since 2017. When quarterback Tom Brady called off his his own retirement, speculation immediately began that Gronkowski would end his exile to follow his BFF back into the fray, just as he had once before when Brady first made the move from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Alas, it appears not meant to be.

The Buccaneers' passing attack should be fine without him considering the offseason additions of wide receivers Julio Jones and Russell Gage, but the team will miss his joyful approach, exuberant personality, and thunderous Gronk spikes. He leaves the game a four-time Super Bowl champion and All Pro, and a slam-dunk, no brainer Hall of Famer.