Jul 30, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski signs autographs for fans during training camp at the practice fields of Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

I guess some type of practice is better than no practice if your New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Still recovering from offseason back surgery (among other things), Gronkowski has been all but absent (at least physically) from Patriots training camp but today he finally was able to participate as he caught passes and participated in agility drills.

Per Field Yates:

TE Rob Gronkowski works extensively with asst. strength coach on side field in t-shirt/shorts, doing agility drills and catching passes.

While it’s extremely unlikely that Gronk will be available when the Patriots open their season, which is just shy of two weeks, it’s still probable he’ll return by Week 3 or Week 4 as projected by the team medical staff.

Of course, how his body reacts to NFL hits is another question, but it appears more and more likely that Gronkowski will avoid the dreaded PUP list and be back on the field in the early weeks of the season.

If you’re a risk taker, he could be a favorable lotto ticket in your fantasy league, assuming you’re willing to take the chance.