Patriots tackle Tony Garcia wrote Tuesday on Instagram that he was “cleared to play again.”
Garcia missed his rookie season due to blood clots in his lungs and dropped about 40 pounds, so the Patriots are still going to bring him back methodically.
Since there won’t be any contact at practice for another four months, they’ll be afforded that luxury.
Garcia got off to a strong start last year in camp before he was placed on the non-football illness list. Until the Patriots see him on the field, they won’t presume he’ll be able to replace left tackle Nate Solder.