In town all week with practices scheduled Tuesday and Thursday, coach Tom Thibodeau said Derrick Rose is “very close” to being cleared for full contact. Thibodeau said “it could” happen this week, another step in Rose’s recovery from last May’s left knee surgery.

“It’s not going to be one or two days of contact and he’s going to be out there,” Thibodeau said. “That’s not going to happen. He’s showing great patience. Everybody else has to. He has to continue to focus on his rehab. When he’s ready, whenever that is, that’s when he comes back. Our doctors have been on top of it since day one. And Derrick’s done great.”

via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune