Rose Increases Activity, Still No Timetable on Return

D. Rose has been gradually working his way back to being able to resume full-contact practice with the team again

Over the past week or so, lots of good news has emerged about where Derrick Rose is in his rehab, and the speculation is he could return to the court soon, perhaps by February.

Rose has begun practicing with the team on a limited basis but has yet to resume full-contact activity on the court. While that is certainly a cause for excitement among fans, the team is still trying to keep the expectations reasonable and measured.

“He’s doing a little bit more in practice now,” Tom Thibodeau told CSN Chicago after the team’s Thursday morning practice before heading to New York to face the red-hot Knicks. “It’s going to be a gradual process … but we’ve got a ways to go. He still has a lot to do in terms of his rehab.”

Rose has been participating in the team’s pre-practice “early group” sessions and doing shooting and conditioning drills at the Berto Center after practices and at the United Center before games, but he still hasn’t accompanied the team on road trips though Thibodeau hopes that will change soon.

“Once he gets [his rehab] cleared up a little bit more, then he may travel more with us. But it depends on what’s best for him and for our team. We just have to be patient. He’s doing fine.”

Rose’s teammates are excited to see him back on the practice court in any capacity, and like everyone else, they’re anxious to see the Bulls superstar back on the court.

“It’s great to see him out here,” Nate Robinson said Thursday. “Today he did some shooting drills and stuff like that, and I know for him – and Bulls fans – to get closer and closer is definitely a relief. The things that you guys don’t see is him working hard every single day.

“He comes in here way early and he leaves late. He’s pushing himself and it’s good to see. You’ve got guys like [Minnesota Vikings running back] Adrian Peterson who had a knee injury and came back strong, now he’s leading the NFL in rushing. Hopefully Derrick can come back and do the same.”

It’s unlikely that D. Rose will lead the NFL in rushing when he comes back from his knee injury, Nate. And fans in Chicago will be more than satisfied just seeing him lead the Bulls on the basketball court once again.

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