TAMPA, Fla. _ Rob Gronkowski was back in the end zone with the football in his hands and points added to the scoreboard.
He had made a nice adjustment on an arcing 12-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter of Sunday's 38-10 win over the Packers. It had been 679 days since his last touchdown and was the 80th of his career.
Now all that remained was his signature Gronk spike, usually something to behold.
Gronkowski holds the ball high in his right hand, winds up almost like a pitcher and bounces the ball with such force it springs into the air as if ricocheted off a trampoline.
But just six games into the season, Gronkowski, 31, already has a sore right shoulder. So he placed the ball in his left hand and did the best he could.
"That was my first left-handed spike in my career," Gronkowski said. "It was kind of weak from the ratings I've been getting. But they don't understand. I thought it was time for my left hand."
Then Gronkowski explained the obvious about his right shoulder.
"It's feeling good. Just taking a precaution," he said. "I just don't need an extra swing on the shoulder that's just hurting a little bit. So don't need any unnecessary stress. I would say I just got to keep getting treatment and doing things right and then hopefully the next Gronk spikes are back to the regular Gronk spikes."
The truth is that Gronkowski's return to the NFL after spending a year in retirement has been anything but easy.
He left the NFL after nine seasons in no small part because his body had broken down, and all the soreness and surgeries had taken a toll.
Over the course of his college and NFL careers, he sustained more than 10 serious injuries that resulted in him missing at least one game. They include: back surgery to repair a herniated disc while at Arizona (2009); broken left forearm (2012); fractured vertebrae/herniated disc (2013); torn ACL/MCL and concussion (2013); right knee bruise (2015); hamstring strain, chest/lung contusion, herniated disc (2016); thigh contusion (2017); and concussion (2018).
"Football is a grind, week in and week out, throughout the whole season, training camp, everything," he said. "What I want to bring to the table is just be prepared every single week. Preparing myself, my body, my mind (for games and practices)."
Entering Sunday's game, Gronkowski's primary job was as a blocking tight end. Against the Packers, he led the Bucs with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on a season-high eight targets. It included a 31-yard seam route.
After Gronkowski scored, he got a big smile and handshake from tight end Cameron Brate, who considers Gronk an idol. Then he embraced Brady.
"It was real nice,'" Gronkowski said. "I don't really remember what was said to tell you the truth because it all happened so fast. The excitement was there."
There have been times when Gronkowski has looked old and slow and not at all like the tight end he was in New England.
But for one glorious sun-kissed afternoon, he found himself back in the end zone with the ball.
"It just feels real good to get my first with the Buccaneers," said Gronkowski, "and it just felt cool to see my teammates excited and my coaches excited."
