That's the only way to verbalize what it would have meant for the Patriots to lose their All-Pro tight end for the remainder of the season. Fortunately for New England, their best skill-position player not named Tom Brady will just be out "multiple weeks," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Unfortunately, they'll still have to replace him for the time being.
The "next man up" company line/mantra works just fine up to a certain point. But Gronkowski might be that "certain point," or at least he seems to be when combined with the losses of wide receiver Julian Edelman, running back Dion Lewis and offensive tackle Nate Solder along with the temporary absence of wide receiver Danny Amendola.