FOXBORO — The Patriots had perfect attendance inside Gillette Stadium on Friday as they continued preparations for their AFC championship showdown with the Ravens Sunday evening in Foxboro.

Rob Gronkowski was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Thursday with a broken left arm, leaving the Patriots roster at 52 players. All 52 were bundled up in heavy sweats and shells on Friday on a bitterly cold but sunny day at Gillette.

The Patriots listed only Chandler Jones (ankle) as limited in practice on Thursday, with the remaining 51 players fully participating.

For more Patriots news, visit the team page at weei.com/patriots. WEEI-FM 93.7 will broadcast the AFC championship game between the Patriots and Ravens on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Rob Gronkowski

FOXBORO — Four days after breaking his left forearm for the second time in seven weeks, the Patriots placed Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski on season-ending injured reserve on Thursday. The team made the announcement as part of their Thursday injury report. The move allows the Patriots to replace Gronkowski on the 53-man roster.

Gronkowski re-injured the left arm while diving to make a catch out of bounds on the Patriots’ second offensive series of the game on Sunday against the Texans. He caught the ball but fell hard on the left arm and immediately went to the bench to be examined by team doctor Tom Gill. He spent several minutes on the Patriots’ bench grimacing in pain before heading to the locker room where an exam revealed a break in the arm.

He had surgery on Monday and is done for the season.

Gronkowski initially broke his left forearm on Nov. 18 against the Colts on the final extra point in a 59-28 win at Gillette Stadium. He had surgery the next day and missed the next five games. The Patriots went 4-1 in his absence before he returned on a limited basis against the Dolphins, playing 24 snaps and catching a touchdown pass. But he appeared to be favoring the arm at times with a white wrap on the forearm, in a 28-0 New England win. He wore the same wrap in Sunday’s game.

FOXBORO — Rob Gronkowski (forearm) and Alfonozo Dennard (not injury related) were the only two missing Patriots today as the team practiced in sweats and shells in the steady rain inside Gillette Stadium. Gronkowski was missing his first practice since re-injuring his left arm and having a second surgery on Monday. Trevor Scott, Danny Woodhead, Chandler Jones, Marquice Cole and Nick McDonald were all limited.

The Patriots listed 20 players as officially “limited” last week before revising their list after practice on Friday. The Ravens listed 21 players on their injury report, including four as limited. Among those limited was running back Bernard Pierce (knee) while CB Asa Jackson (thigh) did not participate. The remaining 16 players were listed as full participation.

Here is Wednesday’s complete report:

Did not participate:

TE Rob Gronkowski (forearm/hip)

CB Alfonzo Dennard (not injury related)

Limited Participation

DE Chandler Jones (ankle)

DB Marquice Cole(finger)

RB Danny Woodhead (thumb)

OL Nick McDonald (shoulder)

DE Trevor Scott (knee)

For more Patriots news, visit the team page at weei.com/patriots. WEEI 93.7FM will broadcast the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Ravens on Sunday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Tom Brady has his sights set on the Ravens and the Lamar Hunt Trophy, and a ticket to Super Bowl XLVII. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FOXBORO — Tom Brady won’t have Rob Gronkowski to lean on for the rest of the playoffs.

But he sent a clear message Wednesday in his press conference at Gillette Stadium as he and the Patriots get ready to take on the Ravens in the AFC championship.

“We learned a little bit about ourselves,” Brady said. “You prepare as if everyone’s going to be there, and then things happen in the game and you have to be able to adjust,” Brady said. “There was quite a bit of adjusting the other night, same thing could happen this weekend. Whoever’s on the field has to perform at a high level, this is the biggest game of our year, so there’s really no excuses at this point, there’s nothing beyond this week that’s guaranteed, so we’ve got to go out there and earn it.”

Brady also spoke about what kind of battle he expects. The Patriots and Ravens have played down to the last play in three of their last five meetings, including a game-winning field goal by Justin Tucker on the last play on Sept. 23 in Baltimore.

“It’s not like you beat this team 50-0,” Brady said. “It’s always a tight game, there’s tight coverage, there’s tight throws, there’s tough reads, because schematically they do quite a few things.

“It’s never easy, there won’t be an easy throw this weekend. They really challenge you, that’s why they’re in this game, they’re not going to just hand you the ball, hand you points, hand you easy scores. They’re great in the red area, they’re great on third down, they really make you earn it, so that has to be our mindset, that’s what we’ll really need to be able to do.”

There’s been only one blowout in the last five games, the 33-14 Ravens win in the AFC wild-card round in Jan. 2010. The two teams have met in the playoffs three of the last four seasons.

Brady knows the Ravens defense will be particularly fired up with the Ray Lewis farewell in full stride.

“He doesn’t give up hardly any plays, makes a ton of tackles, great in the pass game, great in the run game,” Brady said. “He blitzes well, like he did a few years ago. He’s really a playmaker for them, so they give him the opportunity to make those plays, and you see when he makes a play their whole sideline gets really amped up.

“You always have to know where 52’s at. He’s always right in the middle of the defense, but whether he’s blitzing or covering or he’s free in the middle of the field, you always have to take him into account.”

For more Patriots news, visit the team page at weei.com/patriots. WEEI 93.7FM will broadcast the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Ravens on Sunday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Rob Gronkowski re-injured his left forearm Sunday requiring surgery Monday. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FOXBORO — According to multiple reports and sources, Rob Gronkowski was scheduled to have surgery Monday to repair his left forearm, which was re-injured in Sunday’s win over the Texans. He is out for the remainder of the playoffs, a fact Bill Belichick all but conceded Monday during his conference call with reporters.

“It’s disappointing to not have Rob available, but I thought that Shane [Vereen] and Hooman [Michael Hoomanawanui] both did a great job of stepping into the game yesterday and playing a significant role in terms of number of plays and their production, maybe more than was anticipated,” Belichick said.

When pressed further about the risk of putting Gronkowski out on the field in a compromised situation, Belichick refused to elaborate. Belichick was asked if Gronkowski’s arm 100 percent coming into last night’s game to the best of his knowledge.

“I covered that [Sunday],” Belichick said. “He was cleared medically. I don’t have anything to add to it.”

Was he told of any added risk in putting him out there?

“I have nothing to add to it,” Belichick said.

Gronkowski suffered the latest injury on New England’s second drive of the game when he dove to make a catch on the deep right sideline in front of the Patriots’ bench. Wearing a white protective wrap on the forearm, he landed out of bounds on the arm and immediately went to the bench, wincing in pain. He was tended to by team doctor Tom Gill before leaving to have x-rays, which showed the forearm, broken on Nov. 18, was re-injured.

Gronkowski had surgery on Nov. 19 and missed five games before returning on Dec. 30 against the Dolphins, catching a touchdown from Tom Brady.

Aaron Hernandez breaks free for a 40-yard pass play in the third quarter. (AP)

FOXBORO — The Patriots have been through this before. Rob Gronkowski is likely lost for the playoffs after re-breaking his left forearm in Sunday’s 41-28 win over the Texans in an AFC divisional game at Gillette Stadium.

“It’s hard to replace a player like him because he’s a freak of nature,” Aaron Hernandez said afterward. “Everyone has to step up and everyone has to keep making plays so we can keep it rolling.”

Hernandez was one Patriots offensive player to step up, contributing with a 40-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter that led to a touchdown that put the Patriots up, 24-13, and put the Patriots on their way. Hernandez finished with six catches for 85 yards.

“It definitely helps me out because so much attention is on him,” Hernandez said. “But like I said, everyone has to step up. It’s a big loss and you can’t replace a player like him.”

Also, stepping up after the first-quarter injury to Gronk was Wes Welker, with eight catches and 131 yards, 120 of them coming in the first half. Shane Vereen stepped up with a record-tying performance as he had three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing).

“He’s done it in practice and he’s the person that works hard and does his job,” Hernandez said of Vereen. “When his number was called, he made a play and showed what type of player he is tonight.”

Now, it’s on to the Ravens and a rematch of last season’s AFC championship.

“It’s an honor,” Hernandez said. “We still have one more to go to get to the big dance. So we’ve got to keep playing and come to play next week.”

FOXBORO — According to various reports, Rob Gronkowski needs another surgery after re-injuring his left forearm early in Sunday’s game and is done for the playoffs.

Gronkowski fell hard on the left forearm making a catch out of bounds on New England’s second drive. He immediately went to the bench and was examined by team doctor Tom Gill. He then made his way to the team tunnel and had X-rays which revealed the break.

Gronkowski initially injured the arm blocking on an extra point try on Nov. 18 and had surgery the next day. He came back and played against the Dolphins in the season finale before playing Sunday.

The Patriots suffered a number of injuries in addition to Gronk. Another tight end – Michael Hoomanawanui – was spotted with a big pack of ice on his left knee and left the locker room after the game with a pronounced limp. Chandler Jones injured his ankle late in first half and didn’t play again. Danny Woodhead injured his left thumb on the first offensive play of the game and did not return. WEEI.com’s Chris Price reported Woodhead left with a very large ice pack on his left hand after the game and did not speak with reporters.

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