Jul 23, 2014 5 min read

Rob Gronkowski was a training camp spectator last summer while recovering from surgery.

This summer, after another operation, the New England Patriots star tight end is expected to be on the field for the first practice Thursday.

“He’s been cleared to play,” coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday.

That’s welcome news to his teammates after a season in which Gronkowski played just seven regular-season games. He missed the first six following back surgery about a month before camp and the last three, plus both playoff games, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

“We were all hoping Gronk would have a good recovery and so far he has,” Patriots left guard Logan Mankins said. “We’ll just see where he is, how good he is right now. It’s great to have him out there.”

The team could use his sure-handed receiving, powerful blocking and fun-loving personality.

“He’s a tremendous player,” defensive end Rob Ninkovich said. “He’s one of the best guys you could ever meet. He’s a great guy off the field. He’ll say ‘hi’ to anybody. He’ll do anything for you.”

Gronkowski stayed healthy his first two seasons after the Patriots drafted him out of Arizona in the second round in 2010. He played all 32 regular-season games with 132 receptions and 27 touchdown catches.

But while blocking for an extra point in the 11th game of 2012, a 59-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts, he broke his left forearm. That injury ended a season in which he had 55 catches for 11 touchdowns and was chosen for his second consecutive Pro Bowl even though he couldn’t play.

He had four forearm surgeries and a back operation. He watched training camp practices from the sideline, often wearing a T-shirt and shorts. His first practice in pads came last Sept. 1, seven days before the season opener.

After missing the first six games, he led all NFL tight ends in the next six with 37 catches and 560 yards receiving.

But his second reception in the next game was his last of the season. Safety T.J. Ward knocked him down with a hit to the right knee in a 27-26 win over the Cleveland Browns in Foxborough on Dec. 8.

Gronkowski was driven off the field on a cart. He underwent surgery in January.

Dareus returns to Bills: Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus returned to training camp Wednesday hoping to earn his teammates’, coaches’ and fans’ trust after a troubled offseason.

“I have a passion for this game and I want to be here to help this organization achieve its goals,” Dareus said in a statement released by the team. “There are things I need to work on professionally and personally to make sure I can be accountable to myself, my family, this team and this community.”

The first step is getting in shape, which is why Dareus made his camp debut by heading directly to a stationary bike on the sideline at the start of practice in suburban Rochester.

Dareus is on the team’s active/non-football injury list after he failed a conditioning test Saturday. He must pass that before he can be cleared to practice.

49ers’ Davis arrives at camp: Tight end Vernon Davis has reported to training camp with the San Francisco 49ers after sitting out the offseason program and mandatory minicamp hoping for a new contract.

Teammate C.J. Spillman posted video of Davis’ arrival in the locker room.

Right guard Alex Boone was still expected to be a no-show as he also seeks a deal with two years remaining on his contract, just like Davis. The 49ers, who lost in the NFC championship game to Seattle, hold their first full practice Thursday.

Seattle’s Rice retires: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice is retiring from the NFL after an injury-plagued career that included issues with concussions.

The Seahawks announced Rice’s decision Wednesday, two days before the start of training camp.

Rice missed half of last season with the Seahawks after tearing his ACL against St. Louis. Rice re-signed with Seattle in the offseason on a $1 million, one-year deal. But he was going to be pushed to make the Seahawks’ final roster with the additions of draft picks Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood and a healthy Percy Harvin.

Lane Johnson suspended: Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

The fourth pick in the 2013 draft will be eligible to return to the Eagles’ active roster Sept. 29. He’ll miss games against Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Washington and San Francisco. Johnson started all 16 games and played all but one snap in a solid rookie year.