After losing a trio of defensive stars this year, the San Francisco 49ers have reason for optimism in the form of rejuvenated inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
The three-time All-Pro entered the offseason as a weighty question mark after missing the entire 2014 campaign while recovering from torn ACL and MCL suffered in the previous season's NFC Championship Game.
"What I just saw there, my gosh, he looked fantastic," coach Jim Tomsula said Friday, via Bay Area News Group, referring to Bowman's first practice of training camp.
Asked what hurdles remain in his comeback, Bowman replied, "A hit. Yeah, that's probably the only mental thing that's on my mind. If I deliver the hit I want to deliver, once I do that, I'll be ready."
Bowman's arrow has been trending upward all offseason.
Tomsula noted that Bowman was "looking great" early in OTAs. The team's official website raved that he was seemingly in the backfield, blowing up designed runs, on every play in minicamp.
Prior to the injury, Bowman was Around The NFL's choice for 2013 Defensive Player of the Year as one of the league's surest tacklers and fastest inside linebackers.
Barring a setback in camp, he's on track to recapture that form in September.
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