Injured Rose expects to suit up soon

CHICAGO – Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose said Monday he thinks he will be back this season after last month’s knee surgery, but he isn’t putting a firm timetable on his return.

Meeting with the media for the first time since undergoing surgery Feb. 27 to repair the torn medial meniscus in his right knee, Rose said his return this season is “the plan, so whenever I feel right, that’s when I’m going to step back.”

After the surgery, the Bulls put a timetable of four-to-six weeks on Rose’s return.

“I feel good. I’m in a positive place right now,” Rose said. “Just trying to keep it positive and get the most out of these days.”

Rose hasn’t played since Feb. 23 against the Milwaukee Bucks, when he went 1 for 13 in 33 minutes. The next night, the Bulls announced that he would undergo his latest knee surgery.

Rose missed all of the 2012-13 season after tearing his left ACL during the first round of the 2012 playoffs, and played only 10 games last season after initially tearing the meniscus in his right knee. (AP)