FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — 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.