The Chicago Bulls are expecting Derrick Rose to remain on the sidelines for the rest of the season, but head coach Tom Thibodeau said on Friday that the superstar point guard is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a leg injury .

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Thibodeau revealed that the All-Star point guard has been doing well in his recovery from surgery that repaired a torn meniscus in his right knee.

When pressed to give an assumption on whether or not Rose will return to the Bulls this season, Thibodeau said that no timetable is set at this point, but he added that the former Most Valuable Player could start practicing with the team again later in the regular season.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions, just going step-by-step," Thibodeau said. "When he handles the next phase, then they'll move him on to the next one. Just make sure he's ­completely healthy, that's all we're thinking about."

Rose, who missed the entire 2012-13 NBA season while recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery in his left knee, went down with a torn meniscus in his right knee during his 10th game this season.

According to Thibodeau, Rose is nowhere close to practicing with the team at this point, but the coach revealed that the 25-year-old point guard had already started doing light basketball-related activities.

"He can shoot, he's doing some jogging on a treadmill, he's coming along. Still got to be patient, go step-by-step, nothing close to practicing," Thibodeau said.

After undergoing surgery in November, the Bulls announced that Rose will likely be out for the remainder of the season, but Thibodeau's recent statement fueled speculation that the former University of Memphis standout will play again later in the season.

The fifth-year guard also stated in December that he is not ruling out the possibility of playing again this season, especially if the Bulls advance to the playoffs.

"If I'm healthy and the situation is right, I'm going to be back playing," Rose said. "If I'm healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course I'll be out there playing. But if it's something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there's no need."