Despite fully participating in another week of practices, the New England Patriots don't expect tight end Rob Gronkowski to play Sunday against the undefeated New Orleans Saints, league sources told ESPN's Ed Werder on Friday.

Gronkowski, recovering after a series of surgeries on his fractured forearm and ailing back, still has not been cleared to play by Dr. James Andrews, according to ESPN and media reports.

As on 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Gronkowski still had not been cleared, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

In the team's Friday injury report, Gronkowski is listed as questionable for Sunday. He practiced on a limited basis Friday, the same designation he has had for every practice since Week 1. He has not played since reinjuring his wrist in an AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans in January.

Andrews is serving as an independent physician charged by the team and player with determining whether Gronkowski is cleared to play. He is considered the most accomplished orthopedic surgeon in the world, but he did not operate on Gronkowski.

Gronkowski also has not been cleared by Dr. Jesse Jupiter, who performed the latest forearm surgery, sources told Schefter and Werder.

Members of the tight end's inner circle would like to ensure that he is fully healthy before making a return to the field, while those who have watched him in recent practices -- during which Gronkowski has even been tackled -- don't understand why he has yet to play in a game, sources previously said.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked Friday about his confidence in the team's medical staff.