Strong Chance Knox Won't Play in 2012

SportsWorld · Post #1 » by **SportsWorld** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:08 am

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fo ... 1929.story

Bears wide receiver/kick returner Johnny Knox, who continues to slowly recover from December spinal fusion surgery, is scheduled to start the regular season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, according to multiple sources familiar with Knox's progress.

It has long been speculated Knox wouldn't be ready for the start of the season considering the severity of his injury. He was forced to wear a back brace after the surgery and continues to walk with a limp now. But there was more structural damage than initially anticipated, according to one source.

Knox could not be reached for comment.

There is a strong chance Knox won't play in 2012, but placing him on the PUP list would leave open a return to the field if Knox's recovery is accelerated. He would have to sit out the first six weeks of the regular season once designated to the PUP list.

Post #2 » by **emperorjones** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:33 am

I figured as much. WR with one of the 1st two picks for sure

RLakh23 · Post #3 » by **RLakh23** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:27 am

Sad...Would be nice to see him in the SuperBowl this year playing if you know what I mean

Post #4 » by **DJhitek** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:54 pm

Sad but expected. Hope he gets well soon.

Magilla_Gorilla · Post #5 » by **Magilla_Gorilla** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:22 pm

emperorjones wrote:I figured as much. WR with one of the 1st two picks for sure

I would hope so - but this part of the article really concerns me:

The Bears are well-prepared to move on without Knox in the passing game after the addition of three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall as a vertical threat. New offensive coordinator Mike Tice plans to utilize Devin Hester more on offense as well, and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates also has raved about Hester's potential in the revamped offense.

If the Bears truly believe that - I doubt they go for a #4 WR in the first two rounds.

BIGGIEsmalls 23 · Post #6 » by **BIGGIEsmalls 23** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:01 pm

Magilla_Gorilla wrote:
emperorjones wrote:I figured as much. WR with one of the 1st two picks for sure

I would hope so - but this part of the article really concerns me:

The Bears are well-prepared to move on without Knox in the passing game after the addition of three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall as a vertical threat. New offensive coordinator Mike Tice plans to utilize Devin Hester more on offense as well, and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates also has raved about Hester's potential in the revamped offense.

If the Bears truly believe that - I doubt they go for a #4 WR in the first two rounds.

Hester may become a better receiver in a less complicated offensive system :dontknow:

.

Cliff Levingston · Post #7 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:31 pm

BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:
Magilla_Gorilla wrote:If the Bears truly believe that - I doubt they go for a #4 WR in the first two rounds.

Hester may become a better receiver in a less complicated offensive system .

Cliff Levingston will believe it when he sees it.

What's more important about hearing that they have big plans for Hester (again) is that they're probably happy with their top line receiving core. Meaning, they won't be spending a high pick on one. You probably don't really need to either. Marshall was a 4th round pick, Knox was a 5th, Bennett was a 3rd. Maybe we grab a guy in the 4th who appears to be a good long-term fit but he starts out his career tabbed as a backup.

Magilla_Gorilla · Post #8 » by **Magilla_Gorilla** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:46 pm

Cliff Levingston wrote:
BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:
Magilla_Gorilla wrote:If the Bears truly believe that - I doubt they go for a #4 WR in the first two rounds.

Hester may become a better receiver in a less complicated offensive system .

Cliff Levingston will believe it when he sees it.

What's more important about hearing that they have big plans for Hester (again) is that they're probably happy with their top line receiving core. Meaning, they won't be spending a high pick on one. You probably don't really need to either. Marshall was a 4th round pick, Knox was a 5th, Bennett was a 3rd. Maybe we grab a guy in the 4th who appears to be a good long-term fit but he starts out his career tabbed as a backup.

You can say that about every position in the NFL - there will always be stars/starters tht emerge from late round picks - but it doesn't mean I want to rely on only 5th rounders to fill need positions. And at this point, IMO, WR is still a need position.

ChronicKerr · Post #9 » by **ChronicKerr** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:39 pm

We probably need to draft 2 WR's now with one being early and one being late.

heir_jordan22 · Post #10 » by **heir_jordan22** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:30 am

Strange that he's still "walking with a limp." Hopefully he can make a full recovery.

As far as drafting a WR, I think the Bears will draft one in the later rounds since this draft is stacked with receivers.

They targeted Mincey, Freeney and Wimbley this off-season and couldn't land any of them. I think the Bears will draft a DE in the first round (unless someone drops to 19 who shouldn't be there).

Chewie · Post #11 » by **Chewie** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:36 pm

heir_jordan22 wrote:Strange that he's still "walking with a limp." Hopefully he can make a full recovery.

As far as drafting a WR, I think the Bears will draft one in the later rounds since this draft is stacked with receivers.

They targeted Mincey, Freeney and Wimbley this off-season and couldn't land any of them. I think the Bears will draft a DE in the first round (unless someone drops to 19 who shouldn't be there).

heir jordan knows the score. The fact that Knox will start the season on the PUP only makes the reasoning behind the Weems signing more obvious.

BIGGIEsmalls 23 · Post #12 » by **BIGGIEsmalls 23** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:02 pm

But his agent, Marc Lillibridge, reiterated on Monday what he told the Sun-Times last month: Knox has had no setbacks, and he’s aiming to play in 2012.

“We are six months away from that decision,” Lillibridge said Monday.

On his Twitter account, Lillibridge said Knox is “on schedule” and said there’s “no validity” to any questions about his client’s status for 2012.

“We don’t have to make a decision now,” Phillips said. “We’re going to let him rehab, and then we’ll take a look at training camp and see how the offseason is going then make a decision at that point.”

Not that they would rush Knox back, but the Bears added to their depth at receiver by trading for three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall and signing Eric Weems as an unrestricted free agent.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football ... in-12.html

Magilla_Gorilla · Post #13 » by **Magilla_Gorilla** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:33 pm

Why do people mention Weems when talking about the WR position? Weems is a specialist who is a WR only because they don't call him a DB. He's contributed nothing to the passing game in his time in ATL, and is a 5th WR at best here in Chicago.

WEFFPIM · Post #14 » by **WEFFPIM** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:12 pm

I think with or without Knox this team should still be picking Floyd at 19.

But first and foremost, I hope Knox has a full recovery, whether he's back on the field or not.

JDRochholz · Post #15 » by **JDRochholz** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:11 pm

Hopefully he recovers fully.

heir_jordan22 · Post #16 » by **heir_jordan22** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:55 am

WEFFPIM wrote:I think with or without Knox this team should still be picking Floyd at 19.

But first and foremost, I hope Knox has a full recovery, whether he's back on the field or not.

I doubt he will be there at 19. Jacksonville, Miami, Buffalo, Philadelphia and New York could all use a big, physical #1 receiver. He won't be there. Marshall is our #1, Bennett is #2, Hester is #4 and Weems and Sanzenbacher round out the group at 5 and 6. In this draft the Bears can get a legitimate #3 receiver in one of the later rounds. (Bennett will be the #2 receiver from the slot.)

Post #17 » by **alucryts** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:06 am

I have always had a sneaking suspicion that Knox won't play for the Bears again. That injury was simply devastating.

As for our WR core, I think Hester could shine in a "keep it stupid simple" role on offense. Between Cutler and Marshall, no team in its right mind will over cover Hester. Maybe this opens the door for him to be a productive WR? I could see Marshall boosting Hester's play much like Peppers did for the Dline.

Chewie · Post #18 » by **Chewie** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:05 am

Magilla_Gorilla wrote:Why do people mention Weems when talking about the WR position? Weems is a specialist who is a WR only because they don't call him a DB. He's contributed nothing to the passing game in his time in ATL, and is a 5th WR at best here in Chicago.

In my case, was purely speaking in terms of replacing Knox as a KR. Expecting zero from Weems as a WR.

BIGGIEsmalls 23 · Post #19 » by **BIGGIEsmalls 23** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:24 pm

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday it's "a little early" to cast predictions on the potential return of receiver Johnny Knox, who continues to rehabilitate from a serious back injury suffered in December.

"It would be hard for me to go into that right there," Smith said from the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. "Are you a religious man? Do you talk to God? He can probably tell you. Besides that, it's going to be pretty hard."

The latest speculation has anonymous sources saying the receiver likely would start the 2012 season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Although several doctors have predicted at least a six-month rehabilitation process for Knox, Smith said that was premature.

"Doctors know?" Smith asked. "Give me his number and I'll call him as soon as we stop talking. I just know that Johnny is working hard each day. He has made a lot of process. That's all we want, for Johnny to keep rehabbing, which is what he's doing. It's amazing how people are already diagnosing when he's coming back."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... nox-return