Rob Gronkowski cleared to play against Jets

After weeks of controversy, rumors and gruesome details of forearm infections, Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski will finally be returning to the field.

The tight end has been missing from the Patriots since re-injuring his forearm in the divisional round against the Texans last year. That injury caused several infections, which prompted several surgeries. On top of that, Gronk had back surgery in June.

Per agent Drew Rosenhaus to PFT, "Rob [Gronkowski] has now been cleared by all his doctors to play in Sunday in the Jets game."
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 18, 2013

The return couldn't come at a better time. The team just placed linebacker Jerod Mayo on injured reserve and are likely to be without corner Aqib Talib and receiver Danny Amendola against divisional opponent, the New York Jets, this week.

That's an awful lot of talent off the field for the Patriots. Bringing back maybe their most talented pass catcher certainly will help. Especially in the red zone, where the Patriots have struggled mightily this year.