Rob Gronkowski on gradual recovery: 'It's go time'

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rob Gronkowski missed the first two games of the season, but the New England Patriots tight end is more than six weeks removed from a hamstring injury he sustained in joint practices with the Chicago Bears on Aug. 15.

Gronkowski returned to see just 14 snaps, primarily as a blocker, in a Week 3. Then last week, he logged 39 snaps (70 percent of the offense). Gronkowski notched his first catch of the season for just 11 yards.

"Obviously, it's holding me back," Gronkowski said Wednesday. "I missed the first two games, didn't play that much the third one, and played more the fourth one, so I've been progressing every single week, every single day, and hopefully this week now it's go time."

Gronkowski is expected to start Sunday against the Browns at Cleveland and play as much as physically possible unless the game is out of hand.

The Patriots are using more two-tight-end formations, and with Martellus Bennett showing great improvement as a blocker, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has no reason to go away from that look. The mismatches possible, with either Bennett or Gronkowski splitting out to a receiver position in the formation, are endless.

"Coming back, you just can't go full speed, 100 percent," Gronkowski said. "I mean, I wish I could. I wish it was like that, just boom, I'm healthy. Boom, go out there and run full speed. But I've just got to take it slowly, make sure I'm coming back strong, coming back the right way so everything on your body feels good. When I can get rolling, I'm gonna be rolling."

Last year, Gronkowski was targeted on 120 of 624 attempts by quarterback Tom Brady, when the tight end led the team with 72 receptions for 1,176 yards and 11 scores. The duo was reunited Monday. That put a charge in Gronkowski, and it could electrify the Patriots' offense.

Entering Week 5, New England is averaging 210.8 passing yards per game. Brady averaged 286.7 yards per game last season.

"I've been playing with him going on year seven now, so nothing's changed," Gronkowski said. "It's just back to being normal with him here."