San Francisco 49ers

49ers RB Kendall Hunter 'motivated' by injury

Published Jun. 4, 2015 12:12 p.m. ET

foxsports

San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter did not play last season due to a torn ACL, but is turning heads at OTAs and could wind up being a key player this season. With Frank Gore no longer on the roster, carries are up for grabs between Reggie Bush, Carlos Hyde, and rookie Mike Davis.

“He’s coming along great,” head coach Jim Tomsula said of Hunter to the 49ers official website last week.

Hunter is eager to get back on the field and prove his love for the game. Hunter knows any injury in the NFL is tough, but also knows it is how you bounce back from those injures that defines the player.

“I feel like any injury shows you how much you love the game and motivates you,” Hunter said. “It’s a setback. But what are you going to do when you’re healthy? It’s going to make me take advantage of any opportunity I have.”

Hunter still gets treated for his knee, but more as a precaution than anything else. Hunter said he could play in a regular season game right now.

“Once you hurt something, you nurse it even if it isn’t hurt,” Hunter said. “Just to stay healthy and be ready to go.”

(h/t San Francisco 49ers)