The New England Patriots have been without the services of Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski for the last couple of weeks due to nagging back and ankle injuries.

However, Gronkowski has been steadily making progress toward his return this week and has been on the practice field the last couple of days. In light of that, the 29-year-old said Friday that he will indeed be back in the fold for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, according to Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.

“Good to go and excited to get back out there with the team,” Gronkowski said in a Friday press conference. “Excited to get back out there on Sundays and play some ball.”

Gronkowski has been out of the mix for the last three weeks due to injuries that have prevented him from being able to even practice. Despite that, the team has remained optimistic about the entire situation with star quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick both standing by the star tight end in his recovery from these persistent injuries.

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In seven games played, the 29-year-old has hauled in 29 receptions for 448 receiving yards and one touchdown this season. Gronk has tallied over 100 receiving yards just once this season, which came in the season opener against the Houston Texans. His drop-off in production could largely be impacted by the injuries he has been dealing with the last several weeks.

Gronkowski could play a big factor in his first game back as Brady could look to get him going early, especially in the red zone as he has just one touchdown this entire season. Nonetheless, his return provides another major boost to the Patriots' offense.

As it stands, New England is a 13-point favorite on the road against New York, according to BetOnline.ag. To place a bet on the game or any others, click here and use promo code CLUTCH50 for a 50% Welcome Bonus when you signup with BetOnline.ag!