Derrick Rose Injury Update: Rose Able to Sprint, Could Start Practice in Weeks; Return Date ‘Hasn’t Been Set,’ Says Forman

Could Chicago point guard Derrick Rose be getting closer to his highly-anticipated return?

In another rehab milestone for the injured Chicago Bulls superstar, Rose is now able to sprint again...in short spurts.

ESPN Chicago reported Monday that Rose has started sprinting in short spurts during practice. This marks another major milestone for the 2010-11 NBA MVP, who started cutting on his left knee weeks ago.

Rose tore his left ACL on April 28 in the first game of the playoffs last season against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I think he looks really good," Bulls center Joakim Noah told ESPN at a charity event for his Noah's Arc Foundation later in the day. "He looks great, actually."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, sources close to the situation say that Rose could actually start practicing again in a matter of weeks.

''That's the belief that a couple of [the Bulls'] players are under,'' the source said in a Sun-Times report on Monday.

Asked Monday if there was a specific timetable for Rose to start practicing, General Manager Gar Forman replied to the Sun-Times in a text message: ''We're still taking the process step by step, and a date hasn't been set.''

Rose has largely been keeping a low profile during the rehab process, save for his participation in Adidas's "#thereturn" campaign, which ended last week.

However, video footage surfacing of Rose beginning his sprints on Monday has surfaced, indicating that the 24-year-old superstar's road to recovery is yet another step closer to completion.

Anxious for Rose's return, Noah said he, like many of his teammates, is missing his teammate and friend on the floor.

"Of course," Noah said. "I think everybody does. But, at the same time, it's also knowing that if we keep working individually, as a whole, we'll be better for the long run. It's always about looking at the big picture. There's a lot of basketball to be played and the exciting thing about it is he'll be back."

"I think that this season there's been highs and lows," Noah added. "First of all, it's been different playing without Derrick, but it also makes you (realize) ... what I love about playing with Derrick is I feel like it's always more than basketball. Just him being from Chicago, it gives me more motivation and if things go well I feel like he'll be back and that's exciting. But right now we're trying to hold the fort down and we're playing as hard as we can every night. Win or lose I feel like we're giving everything we got and I think if we keep doing that we're going to have success."

So far, Chicago, sporting an 8-7 win-loss record, is holding a slim half-game lead in the NBA's Central Division over the surprising Milwaukee Bucks.