If you didn't know any better, you'd have a hard time recognizing that Dres Anderson is coming off a season-ending knee injury.
The San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver, signed as an undrafted free agent earlier this month, looks and feels 100 percent healthy.
During the team's open-to-the-media OTA session on Thursday, Anderson was a full participant and practiced without the use of a brace. He did the same a week ago at the 49ers three-day rookie minicamp.
"Basically, I just treat (the knee) myself," Anderson said. "I'm not doing anything special for it. I'm continuing strengthening it in the weight room but there's nothing I'm doing especially for it."
Yet despite insisting that his knee is no longer a concern, Anderson admits that the injury hurt his draft stock considerably. In 2013 at Utah, Anderson caught 53 receptions for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns. But after sustaining an MCL tear in October last fall, the pass-catcher from went from a potential mid-round pick to not hearing his name called at all.
"I was pretty surprised because I showed teams at my private pro day that I'm still fast, and I could cut and do all those things," Anderson said. "But I guess when I went to the combine and they did the MRI, it didn't look as good as they wanted it to look. That's what really got me."
Shortly after the draft concluded, Anderson chose to sign with San Francisco over several others suitors. Anderson felt the 49ers presented the best opportunity to make a roster. And he might be right. Behind Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, the team's depth chart at wide receiver appears to be open for competition.
"I think I have a great shot here," Anderson said. "I'm getting my plays down fast, and I've got great mentors and great coaches, so I feel it's a great place for me."
Joining the 49ers was initially hard to swallow for Anderson's father, former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Flipper Anderson. Flipper's Rams lost to the 49ers in the 1989 NFC Championship game.
"He had a little hesitant feeling when I first signed. He was like, 'Oh, OK,'" Anderson said. "But he's learned to love it. I'm getting an opportunity so he has no choice right now but to love the Niners."
As for other adjustments Anderson has had to make in the NFL, hauling in passes from his new quarterback ranks high on the wideout's list.
"Colin Kaepernick is no joke on that fastball," Andersons aid. "He's slinging it. You definitely have to get your head around. But it's good preparation for how games are going to be. You have to have your head on a swivel and be ready for the ball."
