Pats' Rob Gronkowski ruled out for Sunday's game vs. Cardinals
— -- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski did not make the trip with the team for Sunday's season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals and will not play because of a hamstring injury.
Gronkowski, who was officially listed as questionable by the club earlier Friday, injured the hamstring Aug. 15 in a joint practice with the Chicago Bears and has been limited since.
On Thursday, when asked if he was 100 percent, Gronkowski said, "No, I'm not. Since that one time during practice versus the Bears, I've just been week-to-week with a little hammy thing. So it's just been week-to-week, day-by-day, but I'm feeling good."
Gronkowski said his availability for the game "boils down to a coaching decision, the medical team, and myself; we'll all get together and collaborate and see where I'm at."
The Providence Journal reported earlier Friday that Gronkowski did not make the trip with his teammates.
Gronkowski's absence takes away a top weapon from third-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who makes his first career regular-season start. The Patriots have three other tight ends on the roster, with Martellus Bennett likely to fill the biggest part of the void. Clay Harbor and A.J. Derby also are on the depth chart.
In addition to Gronkowski, starting left tackle Nate Solder and right guard Jonathan Cooper also didn't make the trip to Arizona, a league source told ESPN.
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