New England Patriots: Two key players return to practice

As the New England Patriots prepare for Super Bowl 52, they have had two important players return to practice.

With the Super Bowl being just over a week away, the New England Patriots are getting healthier, as they saw the return of both Rob Gronkowski and Deatrich Wise Jr. returned to practice.

Both Gronkowski and Wise are in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but it appears like they are trending in the right direction. For New England, being as healthy as possible is certainly important heading into the Super Bowl.

Wise has had a very good rookie season for the Patriots, as he was able to total five sacks in the regular season. So far in the playoffs, Wise has elevated his play, as he was able to total two sacks in the win against the Tennessee Titans.

While Wise is an important part of the defense, getting Gronkowski back is key for the Patriots’ offense. As a great receiver and blocker, Gronkowski is one of the most versatile weapons in the entire NFL.

Against a good Eagles defense, the Patriots are going to want to have a balanced offense of both running and passing. Having Gronkowski in the lineup gives Brady his top option in passing game, and will also help Dion Lewis and the rushing attack.

Despite not having Gronkowski in the second half against the Jaguars, the Patriots were able to find a way to pull off the comeback. Big performances by Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks helped the Patriots escape with a win at home, but having Gronkowski back will put a lot of pressure on the Eagles’ defense.

Next: Ranking the 10 greatest quarterbacks in franchise history

So far this season, the Patriots have done very well dealing with quite a few injuries. As we quickly approach the final game of the season, it is nice to see the Patriots look like they will be healthy for the big game.