SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- NaVorro Bowman knew he would be on a snap count limit.

Five plays, that would be it for the three-time All-Pro inside linebacker who was making his first in-game appearance since suffering a devastating injury to his left knee in the NFC championship game on January, 19, 2014.

"I wanted to make the best of it," Bowman said with a shrug.

Did he ever ... even if he only played three snaps.

That's because an amped-up Bowman, who admitted to being emotional during pregame warmups, spearheaded the San Francisco 49ers defense to a three-and-out on the first series of a preseason game they would win, 23-6, over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night.

Oh, and Bowman had all three tackles, including two tackles for a loss.

"Expected," is how quarterback Colin Kaepernick described Bowman's performance.

"To see him step out there and be his old self, that's what we've been seeing in camp."

Bowman, who wore the brace on his knee in the exhibition he had ditched in practice earlier in the week, was asked if he felt back.

"If I would have played longer," he said with a laugh. "It felt good though. It felt great.

"The crowd really got me going. I missed it."

On the first play of the game, Bowman read a run up the middle perfectly, stopping first-year Cowboys running back Darren McFadden after a one-yard gain.

"We have a triangle that we read," Bowman said. "I felt like it was the right play to shoot the gap and try to get the tackle for loss."

That would come on the second play, when Bowman combined with Nick Moody to stuff McFadden, who was trying to go off right tackle, for a one-yard loss.

Then, on 3rd and 10, Bowman deeked Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo into thinking he was coming on a blitz by creeping on the 'A' gap.

"[Romo thought] he had the running back free out there on the edge," Bowman said. "It was just kind of a bait. I got him to throw the ball, and I made the play."

Indeed, as Romo spied Lance Dunbar and threw him the ball, Bowman showed his burst and caught Dunbar in the flat for the one-yard loss.

"I could feel the meter just rising on those plays, back to back," Bowman said. "Third down was the biggest down. I knew I was coming out, so I just wanted to celebrate with the fans for a little bit."

Series over. Bowman's day over.

But his season, and comeback, is just beginning.

"We have a long road ahead of us," he said. "Just want to be smart.

"Last year, I had a whole year to sit back and see it from the coaches' view … you always try to better yourself. That's what the greats do. They find ways to learn, different ways, not just as a player. That's what the year off gave me. I just wanted to show that I'm a student of the game, not just a player."