Patriots' Rob Gronkowski: Will undergo back surgery, out eight weeks

Gronkowski is slated to undergo surgery on a ruptured disk in his back and will require eight weeks to recover, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News reports.

Analysis:

Gronkowski sustained the injury in Week 10 against the Seahawks, and while he took the field in one of two games in the meantime, he failed to haul in either of his targets. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the surgery is scheduled for Friday in Los Angeles, meaning the Patriots will likely have to reach the Super Bowl in order to have his services again this season (per the eight-week recovery).