The long-awaited return of Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski was short-lived: He left after five plays due to back spasms in the Bucs' 36-27 loss at the New Orleans Saints, a game that dropped the Bucs to 6-2 but still holding a half-game lead in the NFC South.
Coach Bruce Arians said after the game that Gronkowski and cornerback Richard Sherman, "probably shouldn't have played" but that he's hopeful the defending Super Bowl champions can get healthy in their bye week.
"He kept begging to get in there and re-injured himself," Arians said of Gronkowski, who was active in his first game since suffering cracked ribs and a punctured lung against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, which was the Bucs' only loss of the season before Sunday.