FOXBORO — Christian Gonzalez won’t commit to participating in spring practices.

He won’t even say if he’s 100%.

But the former first-round pick did indicate he’s at least close to a return after tearing his labrum last season.

“That’s in the past,” Gonzalez said Tuesday at Gillette Stadium. “I’m ready for right now, and happy to be back in the building and around the guys.”

The 21-year-old corner got hurt in the Patriots’ Week 4 loss at Dallas last season and never returned. Before the injury, Gonzalez had been tracking opposing No. 1 wide receivers, from Miami’s Tyreek Hill to the Jets’ Garrett Wilson. Asked whether he hopes to take up that assignment in Year 2, Gonzalez deferred to his coaches while adding: “Obviously, I want that matchup.”

The Patriots selected Gonzalez in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and ran him out with their starting defense immediately during Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices and in mandatory minicamp. Gonzalez projects to be the Pats’ best cornerback this season, followed by veteran Jonathan Jones, third-year nickelback/safety Marcus Jones and sixth-round rookie Marcellus Dial, among others.

Gonzalez dodged when asked if he expects to participate in OTA practices later this month.

“I’m just focusing on still rehabbing, strengthening the shoulder and just trying to get better,” he said.

Has he been cleared medically?

“That’s kind of out of my control, just doing what I gotta do,”Gonzalez replied. “Like I said, get my shoulder back right, learn the playbook, be around the guys.”

Per league rules, the Patriots cannot practice in pads until the second week of training camp. This spring, they’ve scheduled OTA sessions for May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4 and June 6-7. No live contact is permitted, but the Patriots can conduct  7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills.

Mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13, more than eight months after Gonzalez tore his labrum.