Knox to play in 2012?

[emperorjones]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... ck-injury/

Bears receiver Johnny Knox cracked a facet joint in his spinal column when he was bent backward awkwardly during a December game against the Seahawks, and when initial reports said he would need 3-4 months to recover, that sounded like good news compared to how ugly the injury looked.

But now comes word that the 3-4 months estimate may have been overly optimistic.

When a fan asked Knox on Twitter last week whether he thinks he can play next season, Knox didn’t answer the question directly, saying only that he wants to get to 100 percent before he thinks about that. And Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com, citing multiple unnamed sources, reports that there’s doubt about Knox’s potential availability for 2012.

According to Wright, Knox had a vertebral fusion and will have to wear a back brace for another month, and his timeline for recovery could be more than six months.

For Knox, who hinted in a reply to another fan on Twitter that the injury nearly paralyzed him, getting his health back is the most important issue. For the Bears, it may be a long time before they know whether the man who emerged as their best wide receiver last year will be back in the fold at all in 2012.

[Chewie]

Wow- good find there, emperor. I know I've been critical of Knox on the board but this would still be a blow to the team. Need 2 WRs for sure now.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Yea, even if he did return (physically) this season, I would have to ask myself if he'll ever be the same player. This injury might lurk in his thought process every time that he's asked to go across the middle.

It may take a long time (if ever) before he's the same player physically AND mentally.

[emperorjones]

Wow- good find there, emperor. I know I've been critical of Knox on the board but this would still be a blow to the team. Need 2 WRs for sure now.

Yea, we have no deep threat to stretch the field other than hester (and I don't think he should play receiver much next season)

Eddie Royal anyone?

[heir_jordan22]

the Bears definitely need to get two starting wide receicers.

[JDRochholz]

Not good.....Hope he recovers 100%

[RLakh23]

good he's taking his time. Spinal injuries affect left to right coordinations. I bet he will come back strong

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Dickerson and Wright

Smith on Knox timetable for recovery: "I wish I could predict that."

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNChiBears

This doesn't sound like the overly optimistic "Rex is our Quarterback" Lovie that I know. This injury doesn't sound good & this situation is a HUGE question mark for us right now.

[Cliff Levingston]

Dickerson and Wright

Smith on Knox timetable for recovery: "I wish I could predict that."

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNChiBears

This doesn't sound like the overly optimistic "Rex is our Quarterback" Lovie that I know. This injury doesn't sound good & this situation is a HUGE question mark for us right now.

We're going to need to find a burner to blow the top of the defense for Marshall, Bennett and Forte.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Dickerson and Wright

Smith on Knox timetable for recovery: "I wish I could predict that."

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNChiBears

This doesn't sound like the overly optimistic "Rex is our Quarterback" Lovie that I know. This injury doesn't sound good & this situation is a HUGE question mark for us right now.

We're going to need to find a burner to blow the top of the defense for Marshall, Bennett and Forte.

Agreed. It's looking more & more like Knox's injury was real bad.

Emery noted the Bears' "very strong tradition of having multiple returners and having more than one weapon as a punt and kick returner" in explaining the move. Indeed, the Bears have used Johnny Knox and Danieal Manning to various degrees in recent years. Knox is recovering from a serious back injury and might not be ready to start the season. Plus, Weems signed a relatively affordable three-year deal worth a total of $4.2 million, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

As for Hester, it's true that his original contract called for a $10 million roster bonus. But as ESPN's John Clayton reported at the time, the bonus was based on Hester ascending to a statistical status as the Bears' No. 1 receiver. He has not done that over the course of the contract and thus the roster bonus will de-escalate to a lower value and not impact whether the Bears retain him on their roster.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... re-returns

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

*BUMP*

Sidelined since injuring his back Dec. 18 against the Seattle Seahawks, Knox has continued to rehab at Halas Hall. Knox has still been relegated to jogging and has yet to start running. He also remains under his playing weight; he estimated that he's around 170 pounds, adding, "I've got a lot of work to do."

Knox said the Bears have not broached the subject of placing him on injured reserve -- "There's still a ways to go," he said -- and right now he's just focusing on short-term goals.

"Just get stronger, that's my main goal right now," he said. "No rush. I'm going by what the trainers and the doctors say and that's what I'm going to go by."

Knox did not walk with a limp on Thursday nor did he swing a bat through three innings of a 16-inch softball game for Nike's North Side-South Side Softball Challenge. Knox captained the North Siders while White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski was the South Side captain. Players were chosen through a Twitter contest.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... ing-season