FOX NFL Sunday made a huge broadcast change with a regular analyst missing from the show in Week 3.
Fox would bring on a familiar face with the usual star absent from the studio for a special presentation.
Fox NFL Kickoff airs each Sunday at 11:00 am ET for one hour before Fox NFL Sunday.
Charissa Thompson is the host and works alongside Charles Woodson and Julian Edelman.
However, TV viewers were greeted with Thompson, Woodson, and Rob Gronkowski at the studio.
Thompson welcomed Gronkowski, who is a contributor to both Fox NFL Kickoff and Fox NFL Sunday.
“We say hello, everybody, welcome to Fox NFL Kickoff. I’m Charissa Thompson, Charles Woodson, and Rob Gronkowski,” Thompson said.
“It’s a pleasure. Thank you for having me,” Gronkowski said to Thompson.
Thompson revealed that Gronk was filling in for his former New England teammate Edelman, who was getting inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame during the team’s Week 3 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We appreciate you sitting in for Edelman because, of course, he is the newest member of the Patriots Hall of Fame,” Thompson said.
“We love having you here.”
Edelman then joined the show live on Gillette Stadium’s sidelines as he previewed the Steelers-Patriots game despite saying he couldn’t hear the studio or producers in his earpiece.
The show then returned to the Fox NFL Kickoff studios as Gronkowski remarked about Edelman’s red jacket.
“First off, Julian is looking really delicious in that red jacket,” Gronkowski laughed.
“Julian, first ballot Patriots Hall of Famer. Well deserved.
“There’s two things in my eyes that made Julian such a great football player.”
Gronkowski then praised Edelman’s abilities in his 12-year career.
The 2009 seventh-round pick would become Brady’s favorite receiver for six of those seasons and help the Pats win three Super Bowls.
“Number one, I would say the willingness to do whatever it took. Whatever the team asked him to do. He played special teams, he was great on special teams. Punt returner, he had touchdowns,” Gronkowski said.
“He played defense as well. He’s one of the last players to play both ways.
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“And now you’ve got Travis Hunter, I kind of feel like he’s overshadowed because of Travis Hunter.
“Julian was great on the defensive side of the ball.
“And then, obviously, one of the most clutch players to ever play the game, especially in the biggest moments when his number was called.
“He always came through, especially during the playoffs.”
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Patriots owner Robert Kraft also joined his former player on the show.
After a week off, Edelman is expected to work the Week 4 edition of Fox NFL Kickoff.
