Former Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski attended Sunday’s Tampa Bay vs. Green Bay game at Raymond James Stadium, according to a report on Pro Football Talk via Joe Bucs Fan. After a third straight game where the offense only scored one touchdown, the Bucs could certainly use him.

The Packers beat the Bucs, 14-12, in a low-scoring affair – despite the game featuring two legendary quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Both teams are now 2-1 with Green Bay having the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Bucs. Last year, both the Packers and the Bucs finished 13-4, but Green Bay claimed the top seed in the NFC due to a tiebreaker.

Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski and QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

The 33-year old Gronkowski retired in the offseason after playing 11 years in the league. After helping the Bucs win Super Bowl LV, Gronkowski caught 55 passes for 802 (14.6 avg.) and six touchdowns in 2021. He missed five games due to a rib injury he suffered in a Week 3 loss to the Rams.

In six playoff contests as a Buc, the future Hall of Famer recorded 17 catches for 226 yards and three scores. Two of those touchdowns came in the Bucs 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs.

Over his 11-year career, Gronkowski has 621 receptions for 9,826 yards and 92 touchdowns in 142 regular season games. In the playoffs he added another 98 catches for 1,389 yards and 15 scores.

He holds the NFL record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a season with 17. Meanwhile, Gronkowski also boasts the most receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history.

Gronk leaves the game with a handful of accolades and achievements. A four-time Super Bowl champion, he also is a four-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. He won the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year award and was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time and the 2010’s All-Decade teams.

TE Position Has Disappeared From Bucs Passing Game

Bucs TE Kyle Rudolph – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs offense has been struggling without Gronkowski this year, especially at the tight end position. Coming into Sunday’s game against the Packers, the Bucs tight ends had a combined three catches for 20 yards. Cam Brate had two receptions for 16 yards, while rookie Cade Otton had one catch for four yards.

Tampa Bay’s tight ends were more productive in the passing game against Green Bay. Brate had five catches for 52 yards, drew a key pass interference penalty on the final touchdown drive and also had a key fumble recovery. Kyle Rudolph made his Bucs debut and had one catch for 12 yards.

But those contributions weren’t enough for a sputtering Bucs offense that was without its top three receivers in Mike Evans (suspension), Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) against a stingy Packers defense. Wide receivers Russell Gage and Breshad Perriman both had fumbles in the game that contributed to Tampa Bay’s first loss of the season.

Gronkowski Still Retired – For Now

When asked for comment by PFT, Drew Rosenhaus, who is Gronkowski’s agent, said: “I’m not aware of any change yet. But you know what my thoughts have been about this all along.”

During the offseason Rosenhaus has expressed optimism that Gronkowski will return to football again – possibly later this year. The Bucs hope Gronkowski, who still lives in Tampa Bay, decides to play one more year with Brady in red and pewter.

Tampa Bay came into Sunday’s game averaging 19.5 points per games, but that number is inflated due to a pick-six scored by safety Mike Edwards in last week’s 20-10 win at New Orleans. The Bucs offense only scored 13 points in Week 2 after scoring 19 in the season opener at Dallas. With just 12 points on the scoreboard on Sunday against Green Bay, Tampa Bay’s offense is clearly regressing.

And the Bucs could really use Gronk.