The San Francisco 49ers are looking to have a healthy Kendall Hunter heading to training camp as the running back who is recovering from injury has shown great progress in their offseason workouts.
Hunter injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the first day of training camp in 2014 and sat out the entire year.
"It was tough, man. Words can't explain it. To know you can't do what you love and have to watch your teammates is tough. It makes you want to want to go out there and work even harder," Hunter said in a report on the 49ers' website.
The 26-year-old athlete has been impressive in the team's minicamp showing his speed and catching ability while being able to make plays, according to the report.
"Kendall, he's coming along great. I think we all have strong feelings for Kendall. He is, you see him out there moving. He's moving around great. But we definitely have a rep count on him. There's a rep count on all of those guys. You've got to keep him corralled. But he's moving around really quick," 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula said in a report by Fox Sports.
Hunter, who played in three seasons for the 49ers, has 262 carries for 1,202 yards and seven touchdowns also having 27 receptions for 268 yards.
"Seeing the coaches believe in me made me want to work harder," Hunter said after the 49ers inked him last November to a one-year pact.
In the report on the 49ers' website, Hunter expressed his happiness to be back and working again on the field.
"I wish I could put it in words. Just to be able to be out there with my team and my coaches again, I feel blessed," he said.
The 49ers were unable to reach the postseason last year after finishing the regular season with an 8-8 record.
