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When Bears receiver Johnny Knox suffered an ugly back injury on December 18, it looked like it would be a long time before he’d be able to play again. And six months later it still looks that way.

Knox told reporters today that he has to exercise patience and make sure his rehab is progressing at the right schedule, and that it’s too early for any prediction about when he might be able to get on the field again.

“I’m just taking it day by day,” Knox said, via ESPN.com. “No rush. Like I’ve said, rehab is going well. I’m not trying to rush things and mess things up any worse, so I’m just taking it day by day.”

Knox said he can jog but can’t run full speed, and he has a lot of work to do before he has his strength back.

“There’s still a ways to go,” Knox said. “Just get stronger, that’s my main goal right now. No rush. I’m going by what the trainers and the doctors say and that’s what I’m going to go by.”

After a serious back injury, the cautious approach is clearly the right approach. But the cautious approach likely means Knox won’t see the field in 2012.