New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski isn't ready to participate in 11-on-11 drills yet, so he's doing the next best thing: working with a pair of First-Team All-Pros.
Gronkowski, rehabbing his way back from season-ending knee surgery, is getting his reps by catching passes from quarterback Tom Brady, while fending off newly-acquired cornerback Darrelle Revis.
The Patriots' two-time Pro-Bowler missed the team's preseason opener, but told WEEI that working with Revis is helping him stay game-day sharp.
It’s good just to have a defender out there, instead of [me] just running my routes [against] air. To break off a guy right in front of you, just like it’s a game — you have to break off the guy, break off the defender. Having Darrelle out there and having him give me some contact — a little bit, pushing me on my routes — [it's] just making me a better player out there right now.
Alternatively, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski admits the workouts are likely just as beneficial to the much smaller Revis as they are him.
"[It's] basically more of a drill for me, but he’s definitely learning too, I would say," Gronkowski said. "He’s just breaking a little bit, not going full, full out. He’s just helping me out and getting me back adjusted to having a defender out there in front of me."
The club has yet to announce a timetable for the tight end's return.
