Gronkowski has been ruled out of Sunday's game at New Orleans due to back spasms, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gronkowski was making his first appearance Sunday since Week 3, when he suffered cracked and broken ribs and a punctured lung. He now is dealing with a new health concern, emerging from Week 8 with no catches on just one target. In Gronkowski's absence, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate again are Tampa Bay's available tight ends.