Carl Nicks has insisted that he will be ready to take part in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pre-season training camp later this year.
The guard missed the majority of the 2013 NFL season after contracting an MRSA infection, featuring in just two games last year.
The 28-year-old told The AP: "I'm not a percentage guy. Obviously, I'm not ready to practice right now, but I feel comfortable saying I'll be back for training camp.
"There's some nerve damage. So it's going to be pain, I'm told, for the rest of my life. Lovie [Smith, the team's head coach] told me the other day my 80% is still pretty good. If I'm not 100%, hopefully I can get to 95 or 99.9."
Training camps are due to get underway in July.
