Rob Gronkowski says he's 'four more protein shakes away' from playing weight

Since Rob Gronkowski announced he would be coming out of retirement to team up with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, the biggest question has been if he would be able to get back into game shape. But in a recent interview, the tight end says he's just a few protein shakes away from being back to his gameday weight.

"Yeah, baby, yeah. You know it," Gronkowski told CBS Sports HQ. "My lowest I got to was 240. And it felt good, you know. I've been above 260 pounds basically my whole entire life, since high school. Since senior year in high school, I was 260. I had never been under 260 since then. So, it felt good just to drop that weight, you know ease up my joints, let my body free. I kind of felt like that weight was loaded weight, too. So, it felt good to get rid of it.

"Now it's time to build back upon it, put lean muscle on my body and get ready for the NFL season like I never have before. It's a different way, a different type of training style I'm doing and everything. I'm about 257 pounds right now. Everyone thinks I'm like 240, 230, but I'm basically four more protein shakes away from being at my playing weight. I'm excited about that. I'll definitely be at my weight when it's time to go. I'll be at 260 to 265 when it's time to roll."

Gronkowski retired following the Patriots win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII but rumors of him mulling a comeback persisted throughout last season. Not long after Brady signed with the Buccaneers in late March, Gronk contacted the Patriots, who still held his rights, and told them he'd like to be traded to Tampa Bay as well. On April 21, Gronk was traded to the Buccaneers along with a seventh-round pick, in exchange for a compensatory fourth-round pick.