FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots went back to practice without Rob Gronkowski on Friday as the 2015 All-Pro tight end prepared for season-ending back surgery.It didnt look much different than a lot of their workouts this season.Weve had some experience I think this year being without him, quarterback Tom Brady said a day after the team announced that Gronkowski is expected to miss the rest of the season recovering from a herniated disk in his back. Its not something that you want to deal with. But at some point in the year, based on how long the season is, youre always going to deal with something.One of the dominant tight ends in NFL history, Gronkowskis biggest struggle is often to stay on the field. He has had ankle and knee surgery once, three operations on his forearm, and two previous back operations. He was the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year, a year after he played in just seven games because of injuries to his back, forearm and knee.The 2010 second-round draft pick has already missed three weeks this season and had a limited role in three others -- the fifth year in a row that he hasnt been able to play in every game.Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday he is disappointed for Gronkowski, praising his work and his contributions to the team. Brady made it clear that he still has plenty of targets for this weekends game against the Los Angeles Rams, even without the three-time All-Pro.Weve still got a lot of good players, Brady said. Well keep battling without him. Weve got a lot of tough guys in the locker room still, and well see what we can make of this season. We were off to a good start and weve got to keep it going.After spending the first half of the season on the injury report with a hamstring problem, Gronkowski was hurt again on Nov. 13. He took a shot in the chest from Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas that Gronkowski said was probably one of the hardest Ive got hit in my career. He missed the Nov. 20 game against San Francisco; when he returned last week against the New York Jets, he left late in the first quarter with a back injury.He did not practice this week.On Thursday, the team and Gronkowskis family issued a joint statement saying the hit in the Seattle game resulted in a pulmonary contusion to his lung, but doctors cleared him to return. Against the Jets, though, Rob began to experience significant back and leg pain.It has been determined that it is in Robs best long-term interest to undergo surgery to address his lower back injury, the statement said. We do not expect that he will be able to play for the remainder of the 2016 season, but will await the results of (Fridays) surgery before making a final determination.One Gronkowski returned to the Patriots when the team re-signed fullback Glenn, Robs brother, to the practice squad.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLMLB Jerseys 2020 . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Nike NCAA Jerseys 2020 . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. https://www.cheapmlbjerseysjustwholesale.com/jermaine-marrow-jersey.html . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Adidas NHL Jerseys 2020 . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Soccer Jerseys 2020 .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore.Who have been the star performers in the Womens World T20 so far? The semi-finals have arrived, with England playing Australia on Wednesday before New Zealand face West Indies on Thursday, but who has been responsible for getting them there, and who else has shone?Heres a look at my team for the tournament, with a few familiar faces present, as well as the odd new name... Charlotte Edwards (England) Charlotte Edwards has answered her critics with a terrific tournament at the top of the order for England Refreshed after a disappointing home Ashes series, with her future as England captain questioned, Edwards has proven the doubters wrong by providing a commanding presence at the top of Englands batting in India. Two man-of-the-match performances, clocking up a joint-most 171 runs, ensured her team finished first and unbeaten in Group B. Australia are huge favourites Charlotte Edwards says England are underdogs in World T20 semi Tammy Beaumont (England)Written off and cast adrift from the national side until Mark Robinson joined as head coach in late November last year, Beaumont looks reborn under the former Sussex coachs tutelage. Delivering the attacking batting that Robinson wants from his charges, Beaumonts fluency and rapid scoring has re-energised Englands top order, especially in the power play. All three of Englands sixes have been struck by Beaumont.Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) Stafanie Taylor, the heart of the West Indies team The heart of the West Indies team, Taylor perfectly combines power-hitting tenacity with measured strokeplay and has propelled her side to the knockout round. The 24-year-old has also taken advantage of the spin friendly conditions, picking up five wickets with her canny offspin bowling.Suzie Bates (New Zealand)On pitches not designed to aid aggressive openers, White Ferns captain Bates has countered that thinking and wacked her way to 171 runs, the most alongside Edwards. After failing to make the semi-finals at the previous event, New Zealand have made quite the impression this time out, with Bates a key figure in their success.Elyse Villani (Australia) Elyse Villani has returned to form at just the right time for Australia Coming into the competition on the back of an array of mediocre scores, Villani struck just four runs in Australias opening two matches, as the reigning champions made an underwhelming start. But a timely return to form - pummeling 53 not out and 43 in the Southern Stars last two group gaames - has demonstrated her hard-hitting ability.ddddddddddddachel Priest (New Zealand)Leading from the front, Priests dependable run-scoring exploits allow those around her to capitalise on solid starts. She knows all too well how to thrash the ball to the ropes, 60 of her 102 runs have come by way of boundaries in the group stage, and she is one of the safest wicketkeepers in the tournament.Sophie Devine (New Zealand)Beginning her career as a strike bowler, Devine has slowly molded herself into a feisty all-rounder with a penchant for bashing the ball a long way, scoring the winning runs against South Africa with a huge six. Crucially for New Zealand, as well as scoring useful runs, Devine remains effective with the ball, claiming five wickets.Harmanpreet Kaur (India) Harmanpreet Kaur took 2-22 against England as India threatened to pull off an upset With England on course to win a routine match over India, Kaur stepped up and removed two of their best batsmen - Beaumont and Sarah Taylor - with consecutive deliveries. Chaos ensued and while India were unable to eek out a win, her intervention almost kept their semi-final hopes alive. A calm presence in Indias middle order, Kaur finished with both the most runs and wickets for her team.Anam Amin (Pakistan)Sterling efforts in her first two tournament clashes secured Amin back-to-back man of the match awards, including a 16 dot-ball extravaganza that saw Pakistan defeat rivals India. Still only 23-years-old, her unflinching accuracy and technical know-how suggests much is still to come from this tenacious left-arm spinner.Anya Shrubsole (England) England seamer Anya Shrubsole has again impressed during the World T20 Despite playing on unsympathetic wickets for pace bowlers, Shrubsole, the 2014 World T20 top wicket-taker, is still causing batsmen nightmares. Consistent with her menacing lines, shes dismissed seven opponents. The Somerset seamers composure with the bat in a mind-bending chase against India also guaranteed England victory.Leigh Kasperek (New Zealand)The Scotland-born Kiwi spinner travelled to India off the back of a successful showing in New Zealands surprising T20I series win over Australia. But she has surpassed all expectations, her unerring control and slight rip of the ball embarrassing many. Topping the most wickets chart with nine in four matches, her devilish bowling came to the fore against Australia, again, where a spell of three wickets in nine balls rocked the Southern Stars.Watch live coverage of England Womens semi-final against Australia on Sky Sports 2 from 9.30am on Wednesday, then catch the second semi-final between New Zealand and West Indies, also on Sky Sports 2 from 9.30am, on Thursday. Also See: Womens cricket home Sportswomen Cricket fixtures/results Get Sky Sports ' ' '