Derrick Rose Injury: Updates on Chicago Bulls Star's Back Injury

The Chicago Bulls continue to fight the good fight without their leader and defending MVP in Derrick Rose. 

Here we will give you the latest news on Rose and his lingering back issues. 

Update: Monday, February 20 at 3:52 p.m. EDT by Alex Kay

Derrick Rose is officially going to start today against the Atlanta Hawks, according to Mike McGraw of The Daily Herald.

It's a great sign for the Bulls franchise and most likely means D-Rose is pain free.

We are going to find out shortly if he's truly healed up and ready to go.

Update: Monday, February 20 at 2:00 p.m. EDT by Alex Kay

ESPN Chicago's staff is reporting that the Bulls' GM, Gar Forman, believes that his star point guard will play tonight.

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"As long as everything goes good once he gets on the floor," Forman said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "He looked a lot better yesterday, and he's pain free. So as long as he's feeling OK there's a chance he'll be on the floor today."

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Rose has been struggling with back spasms for the past few weeks and finally may be pain-free and ready to play tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. 

Keep an eye out here throughout the day for the latest updates and news on D-Rose's back before the 4:00 p.m. EDT tip-off. 

Update: Saturday, February 18, 3:54 p.m. ET by Andrew Kulha

According to a report by Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com, Derrick Rose will not play this afternoon against the New Jersey Nets:

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Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will miss Saturday afternoon's game against the New Jersey Nets because of back spasms.

This will be the fifth consecutive game Rose has missed. C.J. Watson will start in his place. The Bulls are 7-2 this season while playing without Rose.

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This is disappointing news for those wanting to see the matchup between Rose and fellow All-Star point guard Deron Williams, but obviously keeping Rose healthy has to be a priority for the Bulls.

Update: Thursday, February 16, 6:55 p.m. ET

Another night, another set of hopes that Derrick Rose would return is put to bed. CSN Bulls Insider Aggrey Sam tweets the latest.

We will see yet another game without the defending MVP.

Update: Thursday, February 16, 2:00 p.m. ET by Alex Kay

Rose is unlikely to play tonight against the Boston Celtics, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. 

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"If I’m just sitting around, I don’t really feel it [back pain]," Rose said. "But when I’m out there doing stuff, that’s when it bothers me. It’s going to be sore moving. I don’t want to feel it tight in the game. I’m going to come back when I’m ready.

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The guard admitted he "wasn't able to run any" and just shot free throws during practice. 

The former MVP is still listed as a game-time decision, but it's likely he will miss tonight.

Update: Thursday, February 16, 12:55 p.m. ET by Alex Kay

Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago is reporting that Derrick Rose's back is feeling good and the star point guard plans to warm up tonight before the contest tonight against the Boston Celtics.

The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Joyner confirmed that it will be a game time decision on if he plays or not.

This is great news for Bulls fans, who have been concerned about the reigning MVP's back problems.

However, it doesn't mean he's a lock to start or even play.

Keep it tuned here throughout the day for the latest updates on Rose's status for the game tonight. 

Update: Thursday, February 16, 9:30 a.m. ET by Alex Kay

ESPN Chicago's staff is reporting that Derrick Rose is not certain to play in the 2012 All-Star Game.

Chicago Bulls and Eastern Conference coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters yesterday that he hasn't reached a decision yet and that his star PG is "just doing his rehab right now."

It would be wise for the coach to sit Rose out of the game if he's not 100 percent healthy. 

Chicago is having an excellent year and should be gearing up for another deep playoff run, hoping to get past the Eastern Conference Finals this season.

Having Rose play in a meaningless game is not worth the risk and there are plenty of other point guards available to take his place. 

UPDATE: Tuesday, February 14, 12:40 p.m. ET

Chicago Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson reports via Twitter that Rose will be out yet again. 

At least for one more night, the Bulls will have to play without their best player. 

UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 13, 5:50 p.m. ET

The worst has not come to fruition as Chicago Bulls reporter K.C. Johnson reports via Twitter. The Chicago Tribune writer gives Bulls fans hope that the lingering back injury of star guard Derrick Rose in nothing structural. 

The Bulls need their star guard back as soon as possible as the season hinges on how healthy Rose is down the stretch. 

UPDATE: Sunday, Feb. 12, 2:30 p.m. ET by Donald Wood

With news that Derrick Rose would miss the Bulls matchup against the Boston Celtics, the next step in the process has become clear for Chicago.

Bulls beat reporter for ESPNChicago.com Nick Friedell is reporting on Twitter:

The issues in his back have been plaguing him for long enough to where the team, as well as Rose, are concerned about their cause. Bulls fans and management are hoping that it’s nothing serious, but they won’t know until they return to Chi-town and Rose gets checked out.

UPDATE: Sunday, Feb. 12, 2:15 p.m. ET by Donald Wood

The Chicago Bulls will be squaring off with one of the better teams in the NBA when they travel to Boston to play the Celtics, but they will be without Derrick Rose. The MVP point guard will miss the game with a back injury.

Chicago Tribune writer K.C Johnson is reporting on Twitter:

While this is definitely a blow to a Bulls team trying to hold off a red-hot Eastern Conference rival, they have the depth to pull off the win. Let’s see who steps up.

UPDATE: Sunday, Feb. 12, 8:20 a.m. ET by Donald Wood

With the Bulls traveling to bottom on Sunday to square off with the veteran-laden Celtics, there is a chance that star point guard Derrick Rose won’t be on the floor for Chicago. The soreness in his back has been plaguing him.

Rose told the Chicago Tribune about his injury and how much it bothers his psyche:

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"I really don't know. When I wake up, I usually can tell…It's just sore and stiff. I don't know what to do. Hopefully it will heal in a matter of time. This is the most I've ever been injured. It's frustrating knowing I worked so hard. Hopefully I'll be back soon. I hate missing games, especially against great teams."

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Rose is as tough as nails on and off the court, so a back injury that is holding him down is something the franchise has to take deadly serious. While it could be just a temporary problem, Chicago needs to make sure that when he comes back, this won't flare up again.

UPDATE: Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:55 p.m. ET by Nicholas Goss

Rose will sit out against the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night, according to Pro Basketball Talk. C.J. Watson will start at point guard for the Bulls, who should be able to defeat the Bobcats comfortably without Rose. Charlotte has the worst record in the NBA at 3-22.

Chicago needs to be careful with Rose. With him they are a legitimate NBA Finals contender, but without him they are quite beatable. The team needs to make sure he's healthy when the playoffs begin.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET by Zachary D. Rymer

Rose will indeed return to the floor on Wednesday night against the Hornets, according to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com.

"[My] back is feeling better," Rose said after Wednesday's shootaround. "I should be ready to go tonight; game-time decision. I'm going to see how it is when I go out there and I should be all right."

Rose said he got a lot of rest on Tuesday and that the treatment he got on his back helped.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 11:55 a.m. ET by Mike Chiari

With the Bulls set to take on the scuffling New Orleans Hornets tonight on the road, not much is yet known about the status of star point guard Derrick Rose. According to Comcast SportsNet Chicago reporter Aggrey Sam, Rose is a game-time decision for the tilt.

Seeing as the Hornets are just 4-21 on the season it would be foolish to thrust Rose back into action unless he is 100 percent. If he isn't, Chicago would be best off letting him rest his back since the Bulls should be able to handle the Hornets either way.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 8 a.m. ET by Mike Chiari

While it certainly didn't look good when Chicago Bulls stud point guard Derrick Rose left Monday night's game early, it seems as though the Bulls may have averted disaster. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau says D-Rose is merely day-to-day with back stiffness.

The Eastern Conference-leading Bulls have proven that they can excel over the short term without Rose in the lineup, so Chicago might be best off taking it slow with the reigning league MVP. He has already dealt with a turf toe injury this year, so there isn't much need to rush Rose back into action.

Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose left Monday's game against the New Jersey Nets with back spasms and won't return, according to the Chicago Tribune's K.C Johnson.

Rose hobbled into the locker room with less than three minutes to go in the first half and did not return.

The Bulls are performing like a well-oiled machine despite the absence of last year's MVP. They led the Nets by nearly 30 points to start the second half.

Rose is generally an iron man, but he has missed time this year with a toe injury. At this point, it is in the Bulls' and Rose's best interest to make sure one of the best players in the game gets as much rest as possible. The Bulls are guaranteed to earn a playoff berth, which means it is championship or bust this season.

Chicago needs to wise up and sit D-Rose until he is 100 percent. This is a good time too, considering the lingering toe injury. A back injury is nothing to take lightly as it can hamper his abilities all over the court. If Rose tries to play through the injury, he will risk aggravating it further and potentially miss even more time down the road when they really need him.

A back injury would prevent him from attacking the basket, dishing the rock, pulling up for a jumper and playing defense. Rose clearly needs time to heal.

We'll continue to update as more information is presented to us regarding the Bulls superstar.