NaVorro Bowman: Knee "responded well" against Denver Broncos

NaVorro Bowman has said that his knee "responded well" after playing the entire first half of the San Francisco 49ers' pre-season game against the Denver Broncos.

The linebacker missed the entirety of the 2014 NFL season after suffering a knee ligament tear in the NFC Championship game in the 2013 post-season, but managed 40 snaps in the 19-12 defeat to the AFC West side, sacking Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning twice.

The 27-year-old told CSN Bay Area: "Because I'm going to have to [play more snaps] in about two weeks, so I just wanted to see if the knee could stay loose, stay ready coming out after three-and-outs and difference series, and things like that. And it responded well.

"They're letting me knwo that I'm playing well and I'm a heck of player. Nobody knows what I feel and how I feel, and I hold myself at a very high level. All those things are great. But until I please NaVorro, I'll keep working.

"I know me. There are some plays that I couldn't made that you guys probably wouldn't think I could make. That's what I mean, just selling out all the way and not thinking about it. I'll do that when the time comes."

The 49ers begin the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings.