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Rob Gronkowski carted off field after injuring knee

The New England Patriots' recent string of bad injury luck just took a turn for the unthinkable.

All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski was carted off the field with a right knee injury late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos.

Gronkowski immediately pounded the turf, writhing in obvious pain. The Patriots declared him out for the game shortly thereafter.

The injury is to the same knee that was reconstructed in January of 2014.

The Patriots might have dodged a worst-case scenario, however. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports initial tests on Gronkowski's knee rule out a serious injury, per source informed of the results.

"All our fingers are crossed," Tom Brady told reporters after the game.

Earlier in the game, Gronkowski had bypassed Shannon Sharpe on the career touchdown lists for tight ends, which means the 26-year-old has more touchdowns than any tight end currently in the Hall of Fame.

The Patriots lost elusive satellite back Dion Lewis in Week 9, playmaking receiver Julian Edelman in Week 10 and saw Edelman's replacement, Danny Amendola, leave with a knee injury in Week 11. Even as attrition began taking its toll on the AFC's best team, Patriots fans could rest assured that their team remained a Super Bowl favorite as long as Brady and Gronkowski escaped the wrath of the football gods.

Gronkowski's importance cannot be overstated. He has been the NFL's most valuable non-quarterback since entering the league in 2010, anchoring New England's run game and aerial attack

The Patriots have averaged over 32 points through Gronkowski's 76 games, the highest mark for any player in NFL history.

With Gronkowski sidelined by arm and knee injuries, the Patriots lost to the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, were upset by the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game and fell to the Broncos in January of 2014.

Behind Brady's MVP-caliber play and a talented young defense, Bill Belichick's squad has built an AFC East lead strong enough to last versus a remaining schedule comprised of the Eagles, Texans, Titans, Jets and Dolphins.

If Gronkowski returns -- along with Edelman and Amendola -- by the beginning of January, the Patriots are primed for another Super Bowl run.

If further resting reveals a more serious Gronkowski injury, the AFC is up for grabs.

Izvor: NFL

Graham out for season with torn patellar tendon

Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham suffered a torn patellar tendon in Seattle's thrilling 39-30 win over the Steelers.. The injury will require surgery, coach Pete Carroll told reporters.

Graham was carted off in the fourth quarter with an air cast on his right leg after coming down awkwardly on a jump ball in the end zone. The tight end left the locker room following the game on crutches wearing a full right leg support before exiting on a cart, NFL Media's Steve Wyche reported.

It's been a rough first season in Seattle for Graham. The tight end exits 2015 with just 605 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games played. That production isn't at all what Seattle was expecting when they traded Pro Bowl center Max Unger and the 31st pick in the draft -- linebacker Stephone Anthony -- to the Saints for the tight end and a fourth-rounder in the offseason. The Seahawks bet the house and the future on Graham translating his success under aerial wizard Drew Brees to a run-heavy offense under Russell Wilson, and have so far come up empty.

The shame of it all is that Graham was having possibly his best outing of the season against Pittsburgh, which included a momentum-swinging 36-yard grab in the third quarter just two drives before his injury. Graham left the game with four catches for 75 yards.

Graham will miss the remainder of the season, and his absence on the streaking Seahawks' offense will be missed. In his stead, backup tight end Luke Willson will have to pick up the slack. Willson has posted just one 100-plus yard receiving game in his career and caught just one ball for 12 yards in Sunday's win -- the play just so happened to come immediately after Graham's injury.

With backup running back Thomas Rawls and quarterback Russell Wilson putting up career games in back-to-back wins, Seattle is now looking to make an aggressive run into the postseason, but must push on without their star offseason acquisition and second-leading receiver.

Izvor: NFL

Big Ben exits loss to undergo concussion protocol

The end of Ben Roethlisberger's fascinating performance in Seattle ended with an injury scare. We'll have to see if the injury remains a story for the Steelers moving forward.

Roethlisberger left Sunday's 39-30 loss to the Seahawks with just over two minutes remaining to undergo the concussion protocol. He left to go the locker room after suffering the injury. It's unclear which play caused the injury -- the team later announced Big Ben self-reported his symptoms -- but Roethlisberger's final snap of the afternoon was a failed run on third-and-goal.

Now 6-5, the Steelers have to deal with another difficult loss and more injury questions at quarterback. Roethlisberger threw for 456 yards, but was picked off twice while marching the Steelers up and down the field. He is the best deep ball passer in football, and showed it off on Sunday on throws to Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton.

Pittsburgh hosts the Colts next week before a big game in Cincinnati. The Steelers are currently tied for the AFC's last wild-card spot, but are currently on the outside looking in. Roethlisberger last had a recorded concussion in 2009, which caused him to miss the game.

Izvor: NFL