The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Gronkowski is set to return to the operating table, but it doesn't involve his troublesome forearm. NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Wednesday that the New England Patriots tight end will need back surgery, according to a source briefed on his status. Surgery tentatively is set for mid-June. It's expected that Gronkowski will miss at least part of Patriots training camp.

Diehards Line:As NFL.com's Dan Hanzus points out, this doesn't count as a surprising development. The possibility of back surgery previously was known, though the team had held out hope it could be avoided. Gronkowski has had back issues going back to his days at Arizona. The news is better concerning Gronkowski's recently repaired left forearm, which is healing with no sign of the infection resurfacing. It remains possible the tight end will be healthy and ready for Week 1, but matters increasingly are getting complicated.