FOXBORO -- Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski missed Friday's practice because he was sick, per the team's latest injury report. He has been listed as questionable for Sunday's game with the Bengals as he deals with the illness as well as the hamstring injury that has limited his practice participation since August.
The other notable bit of news to come from the Patriots injury report on Friday was that linebacker Dont'a Hightower's knee injury has been removed from the report. Hightower suffered the injury in Week 1 against the Cardinals, then missed the following two games as he dealt with the issue. He played in just 29 snaps against the Browns last week but looked to be moving well during his time on the field. He made one of the key plays in the game when he hit Browns quarterback Cody Kessler and helped force a safety in the first quarter.
Linebacker Jonathan Freeny (shoulder) and tight end Greg Scruggs (knee) have both been ruled out for Sunday. Freeny's absence could mean more work for rookie Elandon Roberts as the No. 3 'backer on the depth chart.
On the Bengals end of things, they'll be without tight end Tyler Eifert as he continues to deal with back and ankle injuries. During Friday's press conference, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Eifert, "He’s a good player and he does a lot for their offense. I mean he can affect the deep, short and intermediate levels of the defense. He’s a solid blocker, he’s a big target, he’s good after the catch so he creates a lot of problems."
Here's the full injury report for both the Patriots and the Bengals as they prepare for Sunday.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
OUT
LB Jonathan Freeny (shoulder)
TE Greg Scruggs (knee)
New England Patriots
QUESTIONABLE
WR Martellus Bennett (ankle)
RB LeGarrette Blount (hip)
RB Brandon Bolden (knee)
OT Marcus Cannon (calf)
LB Jamie Collins (hip)
WR Julian Edelman (foot)
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (right shoulder)
TE Rob Gronkowski (hamstring)
LB Shea McClellin (concussion)
WR Malcolm Mitchell (hamstring)
OL Joe Thuney (shoulder)
DL Vincent Valentine (back)
OFF INJURY LIST
LB Dont'a Hightower (knee)
G Shaq Mason (not injury related)
CINCINNATI BENGALS
OUT
TE Tyler Eifert (back/ankle)
GAME STATUS NOT LISTED
G Clint Boling (shoulder)
HB Rex Burkhead (hamstring)
WR A.J. Green (calf)
HB Jeremy Hill (chest)
S George Iloka (shoulder)
CB Dre Kirkpatrick (hand)
TE C.J. Uzomah (ankle)
WR James Wright (hamstring)
OFF INJURY LIST
LB Karlos Dansby (not injury related)
OT Andrew Whitworth (not injury related)