Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels cut sharply, caught a short pass and sprinted 20 yards down the middle of an empty practice field.
The 6-foot-3 Daniels, who made the Pro Bowl after the 2008 season, said Thursday he hopes to be ready for the regular season opener against Indianapolis after getting medical clearance to play again.
Daniels tore his right anterior cruciate ligament midway through last season and underwent surgery last November. He visited Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday, and the renowned orthopedist finally declared Daniels' knee fully healed.
Daniels is expected to practice with his team on Monday, ending an arduous 10-month recovery.
"It's going to be interesting, it's going to be strange, but I can't wait," Daniels said. "I don't know if I'll sleep Sunday night. It'll be like my first day of football, back when I was like in third grade."