RIVER FALLS, WIS. ? Wide receiver Marc Boerigter says he fully has recovered from an injury that ended his season last year before it even started. Now, he faces plenty of competition for a spot with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But coach Dick Vermeil said Boerigter might have improved since tearing the ACL in his right knee in a preseason game.

“He’s always been a real focused guy anyway,” Vermeil said. “When you can’t do something, you start realizing how much you miss it. And he’s so young in his career, to have a whole year taken away from his career. I think it’s almost a vendetta to get back. And he’s come back.

“Personally, I think, right now he looks better now than prior to the injury. He just looks better to me. He’s a good football player, and he knows he’s in competition with other good football players.”

Boerigter, 27, is battling several wide receivers for playing time and a roster spot.

Three receivers – Eddie Kennison, Samie Parker and Dante Hall – are near locks for roster spots. That leaves Boerigter, Chris Horn, Jeris McIntyre, Richard Smith, rookie Craphonso Thorpe and injured newcomer Freddie Mitchell all competing for three spots – if the Chiefs want six receivers on their roster.

Boerigter embraces the challenge and said his right knee was stronger than ever.

“It’s going well, especially for myself, coming back and just finally getting back in the flow of things,” he said. “I felt more and more comfortable and confident the last week here. I guess it will definitely come down to performance in games. It will all shake itself out here in a while.”

The Chiefs signed him before the 2002 season, and he made an immediate impact on special teams. Then he became a go-to receiver on offense, catching 20 passes for 420 yards and eight touchdowns in 2002.

But in 2003, his productivity dropped. He had just 11 catches and no touchdowns – and a crucial dropped pass in a playoff loss to Indianapolis.

Boerigter’s chances at making the team could hinge upon special-teams play. In his two full seasons with the Chiefs, he rated among Kansas City’s best special-teams performers. And special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. is one of Boerigter’s biggest supporters.

“In my mind, at this point, it’s not even close,” Gansz said. “Marc Boerigter has done a lot for this football team. In ’03, he was one of our best blockers, he was one of our best cover guys.

“In my mind, I’m very loyal to Bo. The bottom line is, Bo gets it done on game day.”