Derrick Rose Return Update: Chicago Bulls Superstar Begins Non-Contact Drills, But Still Out for Season

Derrick Rose took a major step in his recovery from his second major knee injury, as reports on Wednesday indicated that the Chicago Bulls superstar has started participating in non-contact practice drills.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said after Wednesday's practice that Rose has been doing very well, but pointed out that the former NBA Most Valuable Player is still limited to non-contact drills, while also insisting that Rose will not return to play this season.

"He's moving along fine," Thibodeau said of Rose, the Chicago Tribune reported. "He has picked it up a little bit. But there's still no contact. He's out for the year, but he's doing well."

Thibodeau revealed that Rose was limited to just some parts of non-contact drills last week, but made progress this week when he was allowed to participate in all non-contact drills.

However, the fourth-year Bulls coach said that Rose could be limited to non-contact drills for the rest of the season, playing down earlier reports that the 25-year-old point guard will be allowed to practice fully with the team before the end of the season.

"Last week, he was doing parts of the non-contact," Thibodeau said. "You know, we're not practicing real long this time of the year, but all the non-contact stuff he's doing."

Rose sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee during Chicago's 98-95 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 22, in only his 10th game after coming off a long layoff due to an ACL injury in his left knee.

With Rose progressing in his recovery from surgery, the fifth-year guard remains on target to return this summer, not with the Bulls, but with Team USA, who will prepare for their title defense in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain in September.

Rose, who averaged 15.9 points to go along with 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 10 games this season, was selected to participate in Team USA's training camp this summer.

National team coach Mike Krzyzewski is hoping that Rose can play for Team USA in Spain, but he reiterated that Rose will only be allowed to play if his knee is in good condition for training camp.