Rob Gronkowski is one of the New England Patriots’ biggest offensive weapons and a longtime favorite target of quarterback Tom Brady.
But on Sunday, it appears the 49ers won’t have to worry about him one bit.
Gronkowski, who is averaging 21.6 yards per catch this season – a whopping total for a tight end – suffered a chest injury last week via a hit from Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. He hasn’t practiced this week for the 7-2 Patriots and likely will be forced to sit out this game, and perhaps others, to get healthy.
The bad news for the 49ers, however, is that New England has another terrific tight end in Martellus Bennett, who has 38 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns. He is the No. 2 tight end in the league, according to ratings by the analytic website Pro Football Focus.
Gronkowski has had some huge games this season, including a seven-catch, 162-yard performance vs. the Bengals, and two five-catch, 109-yard games against the Browns and Bills.
Even without having to face Gronkowski, the 49ers defense faces a challenge. The San Francisco defense is last in the NFL in run defense and 14th in pass defense. The Niners have allowed 19 TDs through the air, tied for the fourth-worst total in the league.
That doesn’t bode well against the Patriots, who rank No. 8 in the NFL in passing.
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Brady, who missed the team’s first four games because of the Deflategate suspension, has been highly effective in his five games this season, completing 72.9 percent of his throws and has a 125.5 quarterback rating. He has 12 TD passes vs. just one interception and is averaging 9.8 yards per pass attempt.
Even without Gronkowski, Brady has a wealth of pass catchers in Julian Edelman (48 for 457 yards), Bennett, James White (33 for 290), Chris Hogan (19 for 391) and Danny Amendola (17 for 203).
Kickoff for Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium is set for 1:25 p.m.
