OXNARD, Calif. -- Anthony Spencer does not know if he will be ready for the regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, but he knows his surgically repaired left knee is feeling a lot better.

“The way it’s feeling right now, I feel like we could be in a good place around Week 1,” Spencer said. “I’m hoping for it.”

Spencer had microfracture surgery on his left knee last fall after playing in just one game in 2013. Spencer only started sprinting in June and last week added resistance training. He said the next step is to add jumping and cutting.

The Cowboys placed Spencer on the active/physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp to keep the option of putting him on reserve/PUP open. If he is placed on reserve/PUP, then he would miss the first six games. The club could have a decision to make at the final cut down day on Aug. 30 if they project Spencer to be ready for the third or fourth game of the regular season.

“I feel I’m on way to getting a lot stronger,” Spencer said. “I feel it’s not really bothering me when I work out as much or when I wake up in the morning it’s not sore. It’s getting better.”

The Cowboys lost rookie defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence for 8-10 weeks because of a broken foot and could use a quicker than expected return from Spencer, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason.

“I can’t [let the Lawrence injury affect his rehab],” Spencer said. “It’s been working what I’ve been doing, so I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Spencer has dropped some pounds to help his rehab. Spencer said he topped out last year at 267 as he prepared for the season. He said he is close to 260 now.

“I was just heavier last year,” he said. “I got up into the [260s] and when I was playing outside linebacker I was [247] to [255]. I’m like around [260] now, but I feel good. I’m a lot leaner.”