Bulls fans took a deep breath as Derrick Rose sat out their preseason game against the Wizards in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after suffering soreness in his surgically repaired knee. The team made sure to let everyone know it was just a precautionary measure and Rose hadn’t suffered any setbacks. Rose confirmed that by saying he could’ve played Saturday night by was held out by team’s front office. Read more after the jump.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
“I’m good,” Rose said. “I could’ve played, but the front office made the decision to sit me out. I can’t complain about it. It’s nothing huge. I know that I should be able to go next game.” …
“If there’s soreness, then we’re going to rest,” [Bulls GM Gar Forman] said. “Any time you’re dealing with any type of injury or soreness you’re concerned. But it’s not a major red flag or huge concern.”
Rose said he knows he will be ready for the regular-season opener in just more than two weeks against the Heat and added he wasn’t startled or nervous about this speed bump.
“You wouldn’t expect it to happen,” he said. “But when it does happen, you can’t be down on it. I know that it’s feeling better day-by-day. I’m just trying to stay positive.”
As you already know, Rose sat out the entire 2012-13 season after suffering a torn ACL in the first round of the previous playoffs. After the Bulls first preseason game in which Rose marked his return, he said he felt great like he hadn’t played at all. The knee soreness came soon after but it appears Rose is fine. Of course anything related to his knee injury will raise some eyebrows as the Bulls season goes forward.
