National Football League

Gronkowski cleared to play, will not start camp on PUP list

Published Jul. 23, 2014 9:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rob Gronkowski has been given the green light.

The New England Patriots Pro Bowl tight end was cleared to play less than eight months after sustaining a torn ACL during the Patriots' 27-26 win over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 8.

Head coach Bill Belichick told reporters Wednesday that Gronkowski, who had knee surgery in January, will not begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Gronkowski has been hit hard by injuries the past two seasons, suffering a broken left forearm in 2012 and then he re-broke the same forearm in a playoff game later that season. Gronkowski had surgery on that forearm and his back during the summer of 2013.

The last time Gronkowski played a full season, he was arguably the best tight end in the NFL, finishing with 90 catches for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2011.

Gronkowski agreed to a six-year, $53 million extension – the richest for a tight end at the time -- before the 2012 season.