The?New England Patriots?placed tight end Rob Gronkowski on injured reserve Saturday, ending his season, the team announced.Gronkowski underwent back surgery in Los Angeles on Friday, posting on social media that the surgery was successful and he was starting rehab. The Patriots had said they didnt expect Gronkowski to return this season but were waiting until after the procedure to make a final decision.Gronkowskis injury was traced to the big hit he absorbed from Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas on Nov. 13.He finishes the season with 25 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. He had missed time earlier in the season with a hamstring injury and bruised lung, and he left last weeks game against the New York Jets in the first half with what was described as a herniated disk in his back.The injury leaves the Patriots with tight ends Martellus Bennett and Matt Lengel on the active roster.It doesnt help losing great players, and to not have Gronk out there -- one of our best players and one of our most dependable, consistent players -- makes things challenging for us, quarterback Tom Brady told Westwood One Radio on Thursday night. But thats what the NFL season is about. Its about overcoming challenges, adversities.This was Gronkowskis third back surgery. He has had two previous surgeries to repair herniated disks in his back -- in 2009, when he was at the University of Arizona and missed the entire season, and in 2013, his fourth season with the Patriots, when he underwent surgery in June and didnt return until Week 7.He has undergone eight surgeries overall as an NFL player.This season, Gronkowski returned to action Sunday after missing the teams game against the San Francisco 49ers the week before because of a chest injury.The Patriots used their injured reserve/return designation on quarterback Jacoby Brissett on Wednesday, so the team is not able to activate Gronkowski off injured reserve if it makes a deep playoff run. Each team is allowed to designate only one player to return.Running back D.J. Foster was brought up from the practice squad to take Gronkowskis spot on the 53-man roster.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. http://www.wholesaleauthenticcheapjerseys.com/ .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Cheap Soccer Jerseys China . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Quarterbacks and coordinators might be a head coachs greatest assets, but there are others, behind the scenes, making championship-level contributions. Theyre strength coaches, position specialists, recruiting gurus.Theyre secret weapons for coaches and programs, and they ccan make the difference when the margins are thinnest.ddddddddddddWe shine the light on 10 coaches who have flown under the radar -- until now. ' ' '