The New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowskis family released a joint statement Thursday night confirming that the star tight end will undergo back surgery Friday, while saying, We do not expect that he will be able to play for the remainder of the 2016 season, but will await the results of tomorrows surgery before making a final determination.The statement further clarified Gronkowskis injury status, which initially was traced to the big hit he absorbed from Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas on Nov. 13.Rob sustained a hit to the chest that resulted in a pulmonary contusion to his lung. Rob was examined by several specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital as directed by the team, as well as an independent physician, the sides said in the statement.He received medical clearance to return to play two weeks later for the New York Jets game on November 27. After a hit early in the Jets game, Rob began to experience significant back and leg pain. This injury forced him to leave the game, and he did not return.This marks the second straight season that the team and Gronkowskis family have released a joint statement on his injury status. The club has seldom, if ever, done so with other players.The statement also said, With the help of the Patriots medical staff, along with the consultation of several medical experts, it has been determined that it is in Robs best long-term interest to undergo surgery to address his lower back injury.Rob has always been one of our hardest workers and was voted captain for the leadership he provides on our team. We are deeply saddened any time a player is lost to injury. We are committed to assisting Rob throughout his recovery and lk forward to his return to playing ftball for the New England Patriots.Earlier Thursday, a source told ESPNs Adam Schefter that Gronkowski has been diagnosed with a herniated disk. The need for surgery was first reported by The Buffalo News.This will be Gronkowskis third back surgery. He has had two previous surgeries to repair herniated disks in his back -- in 2009, when he was at the University of Arizona and missed the entire season, and in 2013, his fourth season with the Patriots, when he underwent surgery in June and didnt return until Week 7.This season, Gronkowski returned to action Sunday after missing the teams game against the Niners the week before because of a chest injury.Obviously were all disappointed, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday. Nobody has worked harder than Rob and been a better teammate. So hopefully things will work out positively as possible with him. All the information we gave you is really all we have for now. Im sure there will be more coming in as we go through the next few days. So well just take it as it comes. Its an unfortunate situation for him.Gronkowski played seven snaps in the 22-17 win over the Jets, leaving the game late in the first quarter as he walked off under his own power while accompanied by members of the teams medical staff. The team later announced he had sustained a back injury during the game and would not return.It was unclear on what play Gronkowski was hurt. It could have happened on a third-and-7 with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter; Gronkowski was the intended receiver on a deep pass down the middle of the field as he dived for the ball. But Gronkowski played one more series after that play, and he was the intended receiver on an incomplete pass down the right sideline on a third-and-4 before walking off.The Patriots are nearly two-touchdown favorites for Sundays home game against the Los Angeles Rams.It doesnt help losing great players, and to not have Gronk out there -- one of our best players and one of our most dependable, consistent players -- makes things challenging for us, quarterback Tom Brady told Westwd One Radio on Thursday night. But thats what the NFL season is about. Its about overcoming challenges, adversities.Brady, who is listed as having a knee injury, returned to the field Thursday after missing practice the previous day. He told Westwd One, Im feeling so much better today. Im excited about this weekend, going out there and playing against a great Rams defense ... Ill be feeling a lot better than I was feeling last week.The Patriots used their injured reserve/return designation on quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Wednesday, so the team wouldnt be able to place Gronkowski on injured reserve and activate him if it makes a deep playoff run. Each team is allowed to designate only one player to return. Fake NFL Jerseys China . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Fake NFL Jerseys For Sale . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . https://www.fakenfljerseys.com/ . -- Three close lks at the bucket, three misses. Fake NFL Jerseys Cheap . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Fake NFL Jerseys Wholesale . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Having a .500 record midway through the season might not seem like a big deal to most teams, but its a major step forward for the Tennessee Titans.The Titans (4-4) already have exceeded their win total from each of the las two seasons after rolling to a 36-22 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night. The Titans finished 3-13 last year and 2-14 in 2014.I think it shows that this teams going in the right direction, Titan coach Mike Mularkey said Friday. Were doing some gd things. Last nights probably the first time I can honestly say we had all three phases play well, well enough to win. The results showed it.Mularkey said running back DeMarco Murray underwent an MRI on his toe Friday but added that I dont think its t serious. Murray appeared to hurt the toe late in the second quarter but returned in the second half and ended up with 123 yards.Murray and quarterback Marcus Mariota led a Titans offense that scored on six straight possessions against Jacksonville. On defense, the Titans held Jacksonville in check before allowing two touchdowns in the last 3 + minutes after the game was decided.I think were trying to show people were a different team this year, wide receiver Rishard Matthew said. Were definitely trying to win the division.First they need to play better within the division. The game Thursday is the Titans first AFC South victory after they already had lost at Houston and at home against Indianapolis.But theyre only a half-game behind AFC South leader Houston (4-3). That represents major progress for a franchise that hasnt reached the playoffs since 2008.Tennessees record could be even better if it hadnt let a couple more potential wins slip away.The Titans blew a 10-0 halftime lead in a season-opening 25-16 home loss to Minnesota. They fell 34-26 to Indianapolis at home on Sunday by allowing a go-ahead touchdowwn with less than two minutes remaining.ddddddddddddWeve had chances to win all the games weve been in, Mularkey said. The losses have come down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Weve had chances. Its things weve done that have prevented us from getting over the hump to win those games. Yeah, our record could be better, but you could say that about a lot of teams in this league.Tennessee is benefiting from its offseason efforts to upgrade the rushing attack by acquiring Murray and drafting offensive tackle Jack Conklin in the first round and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry in the second round.The Titans average 152.3 yards rushing per game to rank third in the NFL, behind only Dallas and Buffalo. DeMarco Murray has rushed for 756 yards -- already exceeding his 215 total of 633 with Philadelphia.Mularkey believes that ground attack can be even more productive.When you watch the tape, theres a lot of yards still, to me, that were leaving out there, Mularkey said.Five of the Titans last eight games are on the road -- starting with a Nov. 6 trip to San Diego -- but that might not be such a bad thing. Tennessee is 2-1 on the road and only 2/3 at home this season.Mularkey concedes that we really havent accomplished anything just yet with the season halfway over, but he likes his teams approach. After losing three of their first four games, the Titans have won three of their last four.Im really proud of this ftball team, Mularkey said. I really enjoy being around this team. They care about each other. I care about them. Its important to them. They care about having each others backs. I think its really important to them, and it shows up on Sundays.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '