Free-agent receiver Terrell Owens told ESPN.com earlier this week that he's ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from surgery to repair a torn ACL, and hopes to contribute to an NFL team early this season.

"The doctors said the timetable was six to eight months, and up to a year, of rehab process. Obviously, they gave someone of my caliber a four- to six-month window. Four months is very ambitious, and that's where I'm at now: four months and four or five days out from surgery," Owens said after a workout Monday.

"Talking with the doctors, going through my personal training in L.A. and in Pensacola (Fla.), they stressed that I'm way ahead of schedule. I'm giving myself the timetable of maybe two or three weeks into the season that I'll be ready. That's giving myself a grace period, for setbacks. I'm rehabbing my butt off to get back on the field."

Owens wouldn't go into the details of how he injured his knee, saying, "It's nobody's business."

He admitted, however, that doubt about continuing his NFL career crept into his mind after he learned of the knee injury, but he relied on his religious faith during the rehab process.

Owens said he hasn't spoken to any teams in particular but he'll be ready when a team comes calling.