The New England Patriots are likely to be without Rob Gronkowski for the rest of the season. ESPN reported that Gronkowski will have surgery for a herniated disc in his back on Friday and is expected to miss two months.

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The injury is a severe blow to the Patriots, who have long relied on the 6ft 6in, 265lb tight end to bull over defenders. He has been especially important in the playoffs, catching nine touchdown passes in 10 postseason games and averaging 75 yards receiving a game. But despite his dominance in recent seasons, Gronkowski has been slowed for much of this season, missing three games with injury and catching just 25 passes while not scoring a touchdown until the season’s sixth week.

New England has always had an ability to adapt to even the worst player injuries, and the Patriots are still 9-2 and in first place of the AFC East even with his diminished performance.

Still, the back injury must raise the question of how much longer Gronkowski can continue to run over opponents. In football terms he is an old 27, having played in 98 regular-season and postseason games over nearly seven years. He missed most of 2013 with a torn ACL and came back the next season to help the Patriots to a Super Bowl title.

But this season has been his most trying physically. He did not play the first two games with a hamstring injury, and then missed the Patriots’ game two weeks ago after being hit in the chest during a loss to Seattle. He came back to play against the Jets last Sunday, but left with what was described as a back injury. It is unclear when the injury occurred in the Jets game. He left after taking just seven snaps, went to the locker room and did not return.

Martellus Bennett will likely be New England’s top tight end. He has caught 42 passes for 540 yards so far this season with four touchdowns.

Super Bowl LI will be played in Houston on 5 February.