FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm at the end of the team's 59-24 rout of the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, a team source confirmed to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The source told Schefter that Gronkowski was injured on the Patriots' final extra point with 3:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. X-rays after the game revealed the broken forearm. The injury, though, is not expected to end Gronkowski's season. He will have surgery at some point.

"I knew he had gotten injured, but I obviously didn't know the extent," quarterback Tom Brady said on his weekly appearance on WEEI sports radio in Boston. "But he's such a great player, it sucks that he gets hurt, but it's part of this game. He's got to do his best to get back as soon as possible, and we've got to go out there and win some games without him."

An exact timetable for Gronkowski's return is unknown, but NFL.com reported Sunday night that the player has told people he will miss four to six weeks.

"Rob is obviously a special player, so when he goes down, it will obviously hurt," fellow tight end Michael Hoomanawanui said after the game before the extent of the injury was known. "But we have a lot of depth and a lot of guys anxious to fill in and help this team win. Hopefully we can get Aaron (Hernandez) back (from an ankle injury). We'll just say a prayer and keep moving on."

Gronkowski has followed up his record-setting season in 2011 with another strong campaign in '12, collecting 53 catches for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns through 10 games. He had seven receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's win against the Colts.

The Patriots have leaned heavily upon Gronkowski in the absence of Hernandez, who has missed six games this season due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 2.