BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Saying he never doubted he’d be able to play in Sunday’s Super Bowl, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was cleared from concussion protocol Thursday. He practiced in full for the first time since the Jaguars’ Barry Church hit him in the AFC title game.
Gronkowski had 69 catches for 1,084 yards during the regular season.
Bears guard Kyle Long will not travel to Minneapolis to watch brother Chris play for the Eagles after having surgery Wednesday. Long did not specify the surgery, but said it was his last of the offseason; previously, he said he needed a shoulder operation.
Eagles rookie receiver Mack Hollins, who played with quarterback Mitch Trubisky at North Carolina, said the Bears’ new offense fits his friend.